擁 means “embrace, defend”

よう · you

Also: hug, possess, protect

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ヨウ

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 16 strokes

The story

A hand (扌) closing round a bird (隹) under a lid (亠): picture arms folding over a bird to shelter it. 擁 is holding close, from a lovers' 抱擁 to 擁護, standing up for someone's rights, and 擁立, rallying behind a candidate.

Used in 擁護 (yougo, defense/support), 抱擁 (houyou, embrace), and 擁立 (youritsu, backing a candidate)

More from Help & Protect

• 恩 kindness
• 扶 support
• 保 keep
• 援 help
• 護 protect
• 衛 guard
• 救 save
• 養 nourish
• 祉 welfare

Learn 擁 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

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