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Kotomora

卒

graduate, soldier, private, die

JLPTN2StatusJōyō · grade 4FrequencyTop 1,000Strokes8

Readings

On'yomi

  • ソツ
  • シュツ

Kun'yomi

  • そっ.する
  • お.える
  • お.わる
  • ついに
  • にわか

Meaning

卒 centers on reaching an endpoint: completing a course of study (graduating), ending life (dying), or serving as a low-ranking soldier whose duty ends. The soldier sense is a specific application of a person whose role is to finish a task.

Most common words using 卒

20 of 105
  • 卒業そつぎょう
    N4

    graduation; completion (of a course)

  • 卒そつ

    low-ranking soldier

  • 卒業生そつぎょうせい

    graduate; alumnus; alumna

  • 新卒しんそつ
    N1

    new graduate; recent graduate

  • 何卒なにとぞ
    N1

    please; kindly; I beg of you; if it pleases you

  • 高卒こうそつ

    having graduated from high school (as one's highest completed level of education); high school graduate

  • 脳卒中のうそっちゅう

    stroke; cerebral haemorrhage; cerebral hemorrhage

  • 大卒だいそつ

    university graduate; having graduated from university

  • 卒論そつろん

    graduation thesis; bachelor's degree thesis

  • 中卒ちゅうそつ

    having graduated from junior high school (as one's highest completed level of education); having completed no schooling beyond junior high school; middle school graduate

  • 卒倒そっとう

    fainting; swooning

  • 兵卒へいそつ

    private (soldier); (common) soldier; ranks; rank and file

  • 大学卒だいがくそつ

    university graduate; college graduate

  • 獄卒ごくそつ

    low-ranking prison guard

  • 卒塔婆そとば

    stupa; dagoba

  • 学卒がくそつ

    college graduate

  • 卒中そっちゅう

    cerebral stroke; apoplexy

  • 卒業式そつぎょうしき
    N3

    graduation ceremony; commencement

  • 卒業後そつぎょうご

    after graduation

  • 卒業論文そつぎょうろんぶん
    N3

    graduation thesis

Explore all words using 卒 →

Study

Etymology

卒 originally depicted a garment with a distinguishing mark, used for soldiers' uniforms, and later extended to mean a soldier or servant. The modern form is simplified, and the connection to 'graduate' or 'die' likely developed from the idea of finishing or ending.

Meaning mnemonic

The top part looks like a person with arms outstretched, and the bottom 十 marks the finish line. Picture a soldier crossing the line to graduate from training, or reaching the final end.

Reading mnemonic

For ソツ, imagine a soldier graduating and tossing his cap: the toss sound cues ソツ as he finishes his duty.