咽 means “throat, choke”

いん · in

Also: choked, smothered, stuffy

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading): むせぶ, むせる, のど, のむ
On'yomi (Chinese reading): イン, エン, エツ

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 9 strokes

The story

A mouth (口) and 因, cause: picture the narrow spot where a sob catches. 咽 is the throat on the sign of every 耳鼻咽喉科, the ear, nose and throat clinic, and to 咽ぶ is to choke with tears.

Used in 耳鼻咽喉科 (jibiinkouka, ear, nose and throat clinic), 咽頭 (intou, pharynx), and 咽喉 (inkou, throat)

咽 means “throat, choke”

The story

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