Origin

This character combines "heart" on the left, which in kanji represents emotions and inner feelings, with "具" on the right, which originally meant "tool" or "implement" but here functions as a sound component. Together they create the idea of the heart being equipped or filled with something—in this case, fear or dread. The character's meaning developed from this sense of the heart holding or possessing an emotion, specifically the feeling of being afraid.

AI-generated (claude-haiku-4-5), not yet reviewed. Formation type (automated guess): Compound ideographic (combined meanings).