測

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fathom

On-Yomi: ソク — Kun-Yomi: はか.る

Elements:

fathom, water, water droplets, water pistol, rule, shellfish, clam, oyster, eye, animal legs, eight, sword, sabre, saber

Heisig story:

Connoting the measurement of the depth of water, the keyword fathom begins with the water primitive. To its right, we see the compound-primitive for rule (Frame 92) which we learned in the sense of a "ruler" or "measure." Hence, when we rule water we fathom it. What could be simpler? But be careful; its simplicity is deceptive. Be sure to picture yourself fathoming a body of water several hundred feet deep by using a ruler of gargantuan proportions.

Koohii stories:

1) [esaulgd] 11-1-2007(150): A fathom is the unit you use when making rules about water's depth.

2) [XanthosDeia] 13-7-2008(76): You can't fathom how deep this water is. Perhaps you should use a ruler to measure it?

3) [cornfed] 20-1-2008(28): Imagine jumping in the water and riding a shellfish down to the bottom, measuring fathoms with your ruler.

4) [anroo] 15-7-2009(20): Fathoms beneath the water, a shellfish defends the depths with his sabre.

5) [gavmck] 17-10-2009(17): HINT: I find 測 and 則 confusing. For 則 rule (#88 則)Heisig describes the keyword as a rule (regulation). Then in fathom (#149 測) he suggests 則 is a ruler or measure! Whatever stories you choose, don't loose sight of the meaning: 則 = rule (regulation, law), 測 = fathom (measure, conjecture).

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