凝 means “congeal, stiffen, be absorbed”

こる · koru

Also: freeze, stiff, be absorbed in

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

こる, こらす, こごらす, こごらせる, こごる

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ギョウ

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 16 strokes

The story

Ice (冫) beside 疑, doubt: picture a doubtful mind freezing in place. 凝 is setting hard: 凝固 is solidifying, 凝縮 condensing, and 肩が凝る, stiff shoulders, is one of Japan's most common complaints.

Used in 凝る (koru, to stiffen/be absorbed in), 凝縮 (gyoushuku, condensation), and 凝固 (gyouko, solidification)

More from Atoms & Acids

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• 酸 acid
• 粘 sticky
• 鉛 lead (metal)

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Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.