Kanji Breakdown: 毀
Meaning: To destroy, damage, demolish; to defame, slander.
Reading: On'yomi: キ (ki)
Structure:
Left (臼): "mortar" (symbolizing a vessel or foundation)
Right (殳): "weapon/action" radical
The character depicts "striking a mortar with a weapon" - vividly representing the act of breaking something fundamental.
Core Vocabulary & Examples:
毀損 (きそん, kison)
Damage, destruction, impairment
台風で建物が毀損した (The building was damaged by the typhoon)
破毀 (はき, haki)
Destruction, demolition, annulment
契約を破毀する (To annul a contract)
毀誉 (きよ, kiyo)
Praise and blame, reputation
毀誉褒貶相半ばする (Praise and blame are equally balanced)
Key Insight: 毀 conveys fundamental destruction - not just surface damage, but the breaking of something to its core. It appears in legal, formal, and literary contexts describing serious damage to objects, reputations, or agreements.
Stroke Order: 13 strokes. Write left component (臼) first, then right (殳).