On the Peculiar Kanji 揉

内輪揉め (uchiwamome: internal dissension, family trouble)
     inside + circle + to debate vigorously

The character 揉 (JŪ, mo(mu), mo(meru)) has all these meanings:

to rub
to massage
to push and shove
to shampoo
to debate vigorously
to train
to coach
to worry
to be crumpled
to get into trouble
trouble, discord

What in the world?! I have no idea, because it’s not a Jōyō kanji, so it doesn’t appear in Henshall or Halpern. A few 揉 words:

揉み上げ (momiage: sideburns)     to shampoo + head

OK, I have NO idea about the best breakdown here! Both kanji have scads of meanings, and nothing seems to fit here. I chose “shampoo” as the only meaning related to hair!

揉み出 (momida(su): to squeeze out)
     to massage + to come out

揉み消 (momike(su): to stamp out (a cigarette), to
     suppress (e.g., a potential scandal))   trouble + to erase

揉め事 (momegoto: trouble, discord)     trouble + event

Note: 揉 is not the same as 柔 (JŪ, yawa(raka)), the sharply angular kanji that somehow means “soft.” The difference is, of course, the hand radical . If we interpreted 揉 very literally (and probably incorrectly) as a composite of meanings (hand + soft), we would be even more mystified by the rough, push-and-shove type of meanings listed above.

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