責める
せめる · semeru · JLPT N3 · verb-ichidan
to blame
👉 責 = thorn + 貝 shell-money: pressing someone to pay a debt → to blame
貝 was ancient shell money, so 責 first meant pressing someone to repay what they owed. The same kanji is in 責任 (せきにん, responsibility). Semeru is holding someone to account. Sound hook: semeru, say mere fool!