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bewildered; to lead astray
Kanji 1942

Thank you for visiting this Character Home Page. Below you'll find a synopsis of the essay. If you wish to read the full text, the PDF of the essay is available for purchase to the right.

Synopsis

Whether you're confused, embarrassed, annoyed, doubtful, tempted, or fascinated, 惑 can help you express your feelings. Just as 惑 can mean “to lead astray,” it leads us to many topics—everything from planets, predictions, and seduction to impossible bosses and spam blocking. Find out how to say "suspicion of having had breast implants" and "suspicion of lying about one’s age”!

Revision History:

Feb. 24, 2022: pp. 4-5: Changed the first half of the breakdown of 惑い箸 from a noun to an infinitive because this term incorporates the pre-masu form of 惑う.

Nov. 24, 2021: p. 14: Updated a link.

May 24, 2021: p. 5: Deleted 迷い箸 as the primary rendering of まどいばし. The yomi of 迷い箸 is まよいばし.

Jan. 26, 2020: 

  • p. 2: Etymology Box: Replaced the old Henshall etymology with the new one.
  • p. 27: Added a link to the Kanshudo games.

Jan. 5, 2018: p. 26: Changed the translation of the book title to The Charming Black Cat.

May 20, 2016: Originally published.

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Kanji PDF
Cover of essay 1942 on 惑, titled "Dazed and Confused"
Mini Profile
JOYO ON-YOMI
ワク
JOYO KUN-YOMI
まど-う
STROKES12
RADICAL心 (61: heart)
JLPTN1
HALPERN1783/2427
HENSHALL1942/2133
SPAHN4k8.16