契
pledge, promise, vow
Readings
On'yomi
- ケイ
Kun'yomi
- ちぎ.る
Meaning
契 centers on a binding commitment: a pledge, promise, or vow that creates a formal or emotional tie.
Most common words using 契
20 of 101- 契約けいやくN3
contract; compact; agreement
- 契機けいきN2
opportunity; chance
- 契りちぎり
pledge; vow; promise
- 契丹きったん
Khitan people; Khitai; Kitan; Kidan
- 契約書けいやくしょ
(written) contract; agreement
- 契るちぎるN1
to pledge; to vow; to promise; to swear
- 契約社員けいやくしゃいんN1
contract employee
- オプション契約オプションけいやく
option contract
- コストプラス契約コストプラスけいやく
cost-plus contract
- コルレス契約コルレスけいやく
correspondent arrangement
- サービス品質契約サービスひんしつけいやく
quality of service agreement, contract
- ソフトウェア使用許諾契約ソフトウェアしようきょだくけいやく
software product license
- トラヒック契約トラヒックけいやく
traffic contract
- ライセンス契約ライセンスけいやく
license agreement
- 一手販売契約いってはんばいけいやく
exclusive distributorship agreement; sole sales contract
- 一般取引条件契約書いっぱんとりひきじょうけんけいやくしょ
memorandum of agreement on general trade terms and conditions
- 二世の契りにせのちぎり
marriage vows
- 仮契約かりけいやく
provisional contract
- 使用契約しようけいやく
license agreement
- 使用許諾契約しようきょだくけいやく
(software) license agreement
Study
Etymology
契 combines 㓞 (a component associated with cutting or carving) with 大 (big), suggesting a formal agreement or contract carved or marked prominently. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the idea of a binding pledge is well established.
Meaning mnemonic
The top 㓞 looks like a knife cutting a mark into something, and the bottom 大 emphasizes its importance. Picture carving a big promise into stone so it cannot be broken.
Reading mnemonic
For ケイ, imagine a solemn vow sealed with a handshake and the word 'OK' — 'K' from OK leads to ケイ, and the promise is set.