殉
martyrdom, follow by resigning
Readings
On'yomi
- ジュン
Kun'yomi
—
Meaning
殉 centers on dying or sacrificing oneself for a cause or person: martyrdom, or following someone even into death. The idea of resigning oneself to follow a doomed path extends naturally from that self-sacrifice.
Most common words using 殉
- 殉教者じゅんきょうしゃ
martyr
- 殉職じゅんしょく
dying at one's post; being killed in the line of duty
- 殉教じゅんきょう
martyrdom
- 殉死じゅんし
following one's master into the grave; committing suicide after one's lord has died
- 殉難じゅんなん
martyrdom
- 殉ずるじゅんずる
to sacrifice oneself; to die a martyr
- 殉じるじゅんじる
to sacrifice oneself; to die a martyr
- 殉国じゅんこく
dying for one's country
- 殉職者じゅんしょくしゃ
person who has died at his post (in the performance of his duties)
- 殉難者じゅんなんしゃ
victim; martyr
Study
Etymology
殉 combines 歹 (death) with 旬, which likely contributes the sound and may relate to following or a period of time, suggesting dying in the same period as one's lord or cause.
Meaning mnemonic
The death radical 歹 beside 旬 (a ten-day period) suggests a follower dying within the same time frame as their master. Picture a loyal retainer choosing death alongside their lord: that is martyrdom.
Reading mnemonic
For ジュン, imagine a martyr named June who sacrifices herself in June: June -> ジュン, and her martyrdom is remembered every June.