刑
punish, penalty, sentence, punishment
Readings
On'yomi
- ケイ
Kun'yomi
—
Nanori
- おさか
- ぎょう
Meaning
刑 centers on the legal consequences of wrongdoing: punishment, penalties, and sentencing. It covers the formal infliction of a penalty by authority.
Most common words using 刑
20 of 151- 刑事けいじN3
(police) detective
- 刑事でか
(police) detective
- 死刑しけいN1
death penalty; capital punishment
- 処刑しょけいN1
execution
- 刑務所けいむしょN1
prison; jail; gaol; penitentiary
- 刑けいN1
penalty; sentence; punishment
- 刑法けいほう
criminal law; penal code
- 刑罰けいばつN1
(criminal) punishment; penalty; sentence
- 受刑じゅけい
punishment
- 実刑じっけい
prison sentence (without a stay of execution)
- 刑期けいき
prison term
- 求刑きゅうけい
recommended sentence; prosecution's demand for punishment
- 減刑げんけい
reduction of penalty; commutation of a sentence
- 絞首刑こうしゅけい
death by hanging; execution by hanging
- 量刑りょうけい
judge's sentence; assessment of a case
- 刑務けいむ
correctional matters (of a crime); prison affairs
- 刑部けいぶ
Ministry of Justice (in Tang dynasty China)
- 流刑りゅうけい
exile; banishment; deportation
- 私刑しけい
punishment without a legal trial; vigilantism
- 極刑きょっけい
capital punishment; death penalty; maximum penalty; ultimate punishment
Study
Etymology
刑 combines 开 (a shape associated with a frame or mold) and 刂 (knife), suggesting punishment or cutting as a legal penalty. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the knife component clearly points to punitive action.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side 开 looks like a barred frame or stocks, and the right side 刂 is a knife. Picture a criminal locked in the stocks while a knife is used to carry out the punishment.
Reading mnemonic
For ケイ, imagine a criminal receiving a harsh punishment and crying out 'Kay!' in pain: Kay -> ケイ, as the knife enforces the penalty.