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Kotomora

唆

tempt, seduce, instigate, promote

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 2,000Strokes10

Readings

On'yomi

  • サ

Kun'yomi

  • そそ.る
  • そそのか.す

Meaning

唆 centers on urging someone toward an action, often with a negative or manipulative edge: tempting, seducing, or instigating. The sense of promoting something can be seen as actively encouraging a course of action.

Most common words using 唆

  • 示唆しさ
    N1

    suggestion; hint; implication

  • 唆すそそのかす
    N1

    to instigate; to tempt; to entice; to incite

  • 教唆きょうさ

    instigation

  • 唆しそそのかし

    instigation

  • 悪事を唆すあくじをそそのかす

    to entice a person to do something wrong

  • 教唆扇動きょうさせんどう

    instigation and abetment

  • 教唆犯きょうさはん

    criminal instigator

  • 教唆罪きょうさざい

    criminal instigation

  • 教唆者きょうさしゃ

    instigator

  • 示唆的しさてき

    suggestive; pregnant (e.g. pregnant pause)

  • 自殺教唆じさつきょうさ

    (crime of) instigation to suicide

Explore all words using 唆 →

Study

Etymology

唆 combines 口 (mouth) with 夋, which likely provides the sound and may carry a sense of urging or moving. The exact historical development of 夋 is uncertain, but the character as a whole suggests inciting with words.

Meaning mnemonic

A mouth (口) beside the component 夋, which looks like a person walking with a load. Imagine someone whispering temptations into another's ear, urging them to take a wrong step.

Reading mnemonic

For サ, picture a sly serpent (snake) hissing 'sa...' as it tempts someone with forbidden fruit. The snake's hiss cues サ while it instigates the temptation.