擠
push aside
Strokes17
Readings
On'yomi
- セイ
- サイ
Kun'yomi
- お.す
Meaning
擠 centers on the physical action of pushing something aside or out of the way, often with the hand.
Most common words using 擠
- 擠陥せいかん
tempting into crime
Study
Etymology
擠 combines 扌 (hand) with 齊, which likely contributes the sound and may suggest the idea of leveling or arranging, though the exact semantic link is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
The hand radical 扌 beside 齊 suggests using the hand to push something level or out of the way. Imagine your hand shoving objects aside to make a neat row.
Reading mnemonic
For セイ, picture pushing aside a stack of papers to say 'say' something: say -> セイ, as your hand clears the space.