TSUMUGU · B1 (est.) · 字
狠
狠 ＝ 犬 ＋ 艮
ㄏㄣˇ · hěn
adj — fierce, ruthless, savage; verb — to steel oneself
字源 FORM — what the parts do
犬義a dog (犭)the beast — a snarling animal
艮聲gèn — gives the soundsound drifted gèn → hěn
ITgèn → hěn — the donor reading shifted
The dog-side (犭) brings the snarling beast; 艮 gèn on the right gives the sound, worn toward hěn. The animal that bares its teeth and won't let go — fierce, merciless: 狠毒、兇狠. Turned on oneself it means steeling the will: 狠心、狠下心.
故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by
一頭獸（犭）呲著牙、低吼，盯住不放——狠。
A beast (犭) baring its teeth, low growl, eyes locked on — savage.
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
(本義)兇狠— fierce, savage常用
→狠毒— vicious, ruthless常用
⇒狠心、狠下心— to steel oneself, harden the heart
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension