処
dispose, manage, deal with, sentence, condemn, act, behave, place
Readings
On'yomi
- ショ
Kun'yomi
- ところ
- -こ
- お.る
Meaning
処 centers on taking action toward a situation: disposing of something, managing or dealing with a matter, and by extension, the place where such action occurs. The sense of sentencing or condemning is a specific application of dealing with someone's fate.
Most common words using 処
20 of 359- 何処どこN5
where; what place
- 処理しょりN2
processing; dealing with; treatment; disposition; disposal
- 処分しょぶんN2
disposal; throwing away; selling off
- 対処たいしょN1
dealing with; coping with
- 処刑しょけいN1
execution
- 処女しょじょN1
virgin (usu. female); maiden
- 処置しょちN1
measure; step; dealing with
- 処どころ
restaurant; specialist
- 処方しょほうN1
prescription (of medicine); formula
- 処罰しょばつN1
punishment; penalty
- 処方箋しょほうせんN1
prescription
- 情報処理じょうほうしょり
data processing; information processing
- 処遇しょぐう
treatment (of a person); dealing with
- 目処めどN1
aim; goal
- 処すしょす
to manage; to deal with; to cope with
- 住処すみか
dwelling; house; home; residence; abode; habitat
- 何処となくどことなく
somehow; for some reason; in some way; vaguely
- 処するしょする
to manage; to deal with; to cope with
- 仮処分かりしょぶん
provisional disposition; temporary injunction
- 何処らどこら
where; whereabouts
Study
Etymology
処 is the modern simplified form of 處. The older form combines 虍 (tiger) with 処, which likely contributed the sound and the idea of a place to sit or stop. The modern form retains the core shape but simplifies the upper element.
Meaning mnemonic
The outside 夂 looks like a person walking, and the inside 几 resembles a low table. Picture someone walking to a table to deal with paperwork, managing affairs at that place.
Reading mnemonic
For ショ, imagine a show manager dealing with backstage chaos: show -> ショ, and the manager disposes of problems at the venue.