斥
reject, retreat, recede, withdraw, repel, repulse
Readings
On'yomi
- セキ
Kun'yomi
- しりぞ.ける
Meaning
斥 centers on forceful pushing away: rejecting something, repelling an attack, or withdrawing from a position. The retreat sense is a natural extension of moving back under pressure.
Most common words using 斥
- 排斥はいせきN1
rejection; expulsion; boycott; ostracism
- 斥候せっこう
scout; patrol; spy
- 斥力せきりょく
repulsion; repulsive force
- 外国人排斥がいこくじんはいせき
xenophobia; exclusion (of foreigners)
- 宇宙斥力うちゅうせきりょく
dark energy
- 排斥運動はいせきうんどう
expulsion movement; boycott
- 擯斥ひんせき
rejection; ostracism
- 斥候兵せっこうへい
reconnoitering party; scout (army)
- 斥候隊せっこうたい
reconnoitering party; scout (army)
- 除斥じょせき
exclusion
- 除斥期間じょせききかん
(time limit imposed by the) statute of limitations
Study
Etymology
斥 is thought to combine 斤 (axe) with a dot, possibly representing something being cut or split away, giving the idea of rejection or pushing back. The exact historical development is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
Picture an axe 斤 with a small dot 丶 flying off it, like a chip being rejected. The axe pushes the chip away, just as 斥 means to repel or reject.
Reading mnemonic
For セキ, imagine a security guard rejecting entry at a gate: "Security!" -> セキ, and the guard repels anyone without a pass.