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Kotomora

塞

close, shut, cover, block, obstruct

StatusJōyō · secondary schoolStrokes13

Readings

On'yomi

  • ソク
  • サイ

Kun'yomi

  • ふさ.ぐ
  • とりで
  • み.ちる

Meaning

塞 centers on blocking passage or access: closing, shutting, covering, or obstructing so that nothing can get through.

Most common words using 塞

20 of 70
  • 要塞ようさい

    fort; stronghold; fortification

  • 閉塞へいそく

    blockage; blockade; blocking up; stoppage; obstruction; occlusion

  • 梗塞こうそく

    stoppage; blocking

  • 塞くせく

    to dam up (a stream); to dam

  • 心筋梗塞しんきんこうそく

    heart attack; myocardial infarction

  • 塞ぐふさぐ
    N2

    to stop up; to close up; to block (up); to plug up; to shut up; to cover (ears, eyes, etc.); to close (eyes, mouth)

  • 城塞じょうさい

    fortress; stronghold; citadel

  • 塞がるふさがる
    N2

    to be closed; to be blocked; to be healed (e.g. wound); to be shut up

  • 塞栓そくせん

    embolus; abnormal substance (i.e. air) circulating in the blood

  • 腸閉塞ちょうへいそく

    intestinal obstruction; ileus

  • 塞がりふさがり

    being closed; being blocked up; being occupied; hindrance; impedance

  • 塞げるふさげる

    to close up; to block up; to fill; to cover

  • 脳梗塞のうこうそく

    cerebral infarction; (ischemic) stroke

  • 手が塞がるてがふさがる
    N2

    to be busy; to be tied up doing something

  • 耳を塞ぐみみをふさぐ
    N1

    to stop (plug) one's ears

  • あいた口が塞がらぬあいたくちがふさがらぬ

    surprising; shocking; jaw-dropping

  • あいた口も塞がらぬあいたくちもふさがらぬ

    surprising; shocking; jaw-dropping

  • ウィリス動脈輪閉塞症ウィリスどうみゃくりんへいそくしょう

    occlusion in the circle of Willis

  • ラクナ梗塞ラクナこうそく

    lacunar infarction

  • 人間万事塞翁が馬にんげんばんじさいおうがうま

    inscrutable are the ways of heaven; fortune is unpredictable and changeable

Explore all words using 塞 →

Study

Etymology

塞 is composed of 宀 (roof) over a complex middle and 土 (earth) at the bottom, suggesting earth piled up to block or close off an opening under a roof. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the modern form visually supports the idea of obstruction.

Meaning mnemonic

Under a roof (宀), earth (土) is piled up between two hands (ハ) to block the entrance. Picture someone shoveling dirt to close off a cave.

Reading mnemonic

For ソク, imagine a sock stuffed into a pipe to block it: sock -> ソク, and the pipe is completely obstructed.