斉
adjusted, alike, equal, similar variety of
Readings
On'yomi
- セイ
- サイ
Kun'yomi
- そろ.う
- ひと.しい
- ひと.しく
- あたる
- はやい
Nanori
- ただ
- なり
- ひと
- ひとし
Meaning
斉 centers on uniformity and balance: things that are adjusted to be alike, equal, or of a similar kind. It expresses the idea of bringing items into a matching, orderly state.
Most common words using 斉
20 of 30- 一斉いっせいN2
simultaneous; all at once
- 斉せい
Qi (kingdom in China during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Period of the Warring States); Ch'i
- 斉唱せいしょう
singing in unison; chanting in unison
- 一斉にいっせいにN2
simultaneously; all at once; in unison
- 斉射せいしゃ
volley (of fire); salvo; fusillade; simultaneous firing (of guns or artillery)
- 烏魯木斉ウルムチ
Ürümqi (China)
- 一斉安いっせいやす
all-round (market) decline
- 一斉射撃いっせいしゃげき
volley firing; fusillade; broadside
- 一斉攻撃いっせいこうげき
general attack; all-out attack; attack on all fronts; onslaught; fusillade
- 一斉検挙いっせいけんきょ
wholesale arrest; round-up
- 一斉送信いっせいそうしん
simultaneous transmission; sending to multiple recipients; sending a group message
- 一斉高いっせいだか
all-round (market) advance
- 不均斉ふきんせい
asymmetry
- 不斉ふせい
irregularity; unevenness; asymmetry; lack of uniformity
- 不斉地ふせいち
uneven ground; broken terrain
- 修身斉家治国平天下しゅうしんせいかちこくへいてんか
those who wish to rule the land must first cultivate their own characters, then manage their families, then govern their states; only then can they bring peace to the land
- 北斉ほくせい
Northern Qi dynasty (of China; 550-577); Northern Ch'i dynasty
- 南斉なんせい
Southern Qi dynasty (of China; 479-502 CE); Southern Ch'i dynasty
- 整斉せいせい
arranged; organized; orderly; neat
- 斉一せいいつ
uniformity; equality
Study
Etymology
斉 is the modern simplified form of 齊. The older form 齊 depicts three even stalks of grain, symbolizing uniformity and equality. The modern form retains the top 文 and a simplified lower part, preserving the idea of evenness.
Meaning mnemonic
The top 文 suggests a pattern or design, and the lower part looks like two even legs standing in balance. Picture a pattern where everything is adjusted to be perfectly alike and equal.
Reading mnemonic
For セイ, imagine a set of scales being adjusted until they are perfectly even, and you say 'say' (セイ) when they are balanced: 'Say!' -> セイ, and everything is equal.