帥
commander, leading troops, governor
Readings
On'yomi
- スイ
Kun'yomi
—
Meaning
帥 centers on a person who leads and directs others, especially in a military or governing role: a commander, one who leads troops, or a governor.
Most common words using 帥
- 元帥げんすい
(field) marshal; (fleet) admiral; general of the army
- 総帥そうすい
commander-in-chief; leader; head of a group of companies
- 帥そち
director of the Dazaifu
- 統帥とうすい
supreme command; high command
- 大元帥だいげんすい
commander-in-chief; generalissimo
- マ元帥マげんすい
General Douglas MacArthur
- 元帥府げんすいふ
Supreme Military Council (1898-1945)
- 大元帥明王たいげんみょうおう
Atavaka (guardian deity)
- 大宰帥おおみこともちのかみ
director of the dazaifu (ritsuryō system)
- 将帥しょうすい
commander
- 志帥会しすいかい
Shisuikai (faction of the Liberal Democratic Party); Nikai faction
- 梟帥たける
leader of a powerful tribe
- 渠帥きょすい
chief of bandits
- 統帥権とうすいけん
supreme command authority (of the emperor)
Study
Etymology
帥 is composed of 巾 (cloth) on the right and a left side that likely derives from a phonetic element. The character originally referred to a leader or commander, possibly from the idea of a cloth banner used to direct troops.
Meaning mnemonic
The right side 巾 looks like a cloth banner or flag. Picture a commander holding a banner high to lead troops into battle.
Reading mnemonic
For スイ, imagine a commander smoothly swinging a banner: swing -> スイ, and the smooth motion leads the troops forward.