heart, interior
奥 centers on the deep, inner part of something: the heart or interior of a place, idea, or feeling. It points to what is not on the surface.
奥 is the modern simplified form of 奧. The older form combines 宀 (roof) with 釆 (distinguish) and 大 (big), suggesting a deep, inner room or recess. The modern form replaces 釆 with 米.
Inside a big (大) room under a roof, there is rice (米) stored deep in the interior. The heart of the house is its innermost part.
For オウ, imagine the deep interior of a house where you hear a low, resonant 'oh' sound echoing: 'oh' -> オウ, the sound of the heart of the home.
inner part; interior; back (of a drawer, one's throat, etc.); depths (e.g. of a forest); recesses (e.g. of a cave); heart; end (of a road, garden, etc.)
wife; your wife; his wife; married lady; madam
wife; your wife; his wife; married lady; madam
profound; deep
secret techniques (of an art or skill); inner mysteries; essence; quintessence; heart
Rikuō (former province located in parts of present-day Aomori and Iwate prefectures)
Mutsu (former province located in present-day Fukushima, Miyagi, Iwate, and Aomori prefectures)
inner palace (in Edo Castle); palace's ladies chambers; shogun's harem
deep in the mountains; mountain recesses
depths; deep place
depth; length
back tooth; molar
remote mountain; mountain recesses
interior; backwoods; hinterland; back regions
late-growing rice
lady; nobleman's wife
refined; elegant; graceful; cultivated
ace up one's sleeve; trump card; last resort
Ōu (the two former provinces of Mutsu and Dewa); Tōhoku
deep inside; innermost place