dirt, grime, earwax
垢 centers on unwanted filth that accumulates on a surface: dirt, grime, or bodily secretions like earwax.
垢 combines 土 (earth/soil) with 后, which likely contributes the sound. The idea is dirt or filth associated with the ground.
The left side is 土 (earth/soil), and the right side 后 looks like a container. Picture soil and grime collecting inside a container, forming stubborn dirt.
For コウ, imagine scrubbing away dirt with a coarse cloth: coarse -> コウ, and the grime comes off.
dirt; filth; grime
account (e.g. for an online service)
pure; innocent; spotless; immaculate; unspoiled
refinement; style; sophistication
finger marks; dirt from the hands
white kimono
fur; incrustation; limescale
secondary account (on social media, etc.); second account; extra account; backup account
premium account
main account (on social media, etc.); principal account
alternate account (on social media, etc.); separate account; alt account; alt
secondary account (on social media, etc.); second account; extra account; backup account
klesha (polluting thoughts such as greed, hatred and delusion, which result in suffering)
account ban
female assistant who scrubbed customers at public baths and also offered sexual services (Edo period)
to become dirty; to become grimy; to become filthy; to get stained with dirt
scrubbing grime off (the skin)
shininess in clothing (from grime, wear, overuse, etc.)
akaname; Japanese creature said to lick filth in bathrooms
to be refined; to be polished; to be stylish; to be sophisticated