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Kotomora

殛

to put to death, to imprison for life, to punish

Strokes12

Readings

On'yomi

  • キョク
  • コク

Kun'yomi

  • ころ.す

Meaning

殛 centers on severe punitive action: putting someone to death, imprisoning them for life, or otherwise punishing them harshly.

Study

Etymology

殛 combines 歹 (death) with 亟, which likely contributes the sound and carries a sense of extremity or urgency, together suggesting the ultimate punishment.

Meaning mnemonic

The death radical 歹 beside 亟, which looks like a person under extreme pressure, suggests the most severe punishments: death or life imprisonment.

Reading mnemonic

For キョク, imagine a criminal receiving the ultimate punishment and letting out a choked cry: kyok! The sound kyok cues キョク while the death radical reinforces the grim scene.