含 means “contain, include”

ふくむ · fukumu

Also: hold in the mouth, bear in mind

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)
ふくむ, ふくめる
On'yomi (Chinese reading)
ガン

JLPT N2 · Taught in secondary school · 7 strokes

The story

Something held in the mouth (口) for now (今), not yet swallowed: 含む first meant keeping it there. Now it means to contain or include, as in 送料を含む, shipping included, and 含み笑い is a laugh held behind closed lips.

Used in 含む (fukumu, to contain/include), 含める (fukumeru, to include), and 含有量 (gan'yuuryou, amount contained)

More from Handle With Care

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