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Kotomora

激

violent, get excited, enraged, chafe, incite

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · grade 6FrequencyTop 1,000Strokes16

Readings

On'yomi

  • ゲキ

Kun'yomi

  • はげ.しい

Meaning

激 centers on intense, forceful energy: something violent, fiercely excited, or enraged. It can also mean to stir up or incite such strong emotion or action.

Most common words using 激

20 of 108
  • 激げき

    extremely; terrifically; super

  • 激しいはげしい
    N3

    violent; furious; tempestuous

  • 刺激しげき
    N3

    stimulus; stimulation; irritation (esp. of the body, e.g. skin, eyes)

  • 過激かげき

    extreme (measure, idea, etc.); radical; violent (language)

  • 激怒げきど

    rage; fury

  • 急激きゅうげき
    N3

    sudden; abrupt; rapid; sharp; drastic; radical

  • 感激かんげき
    N3

    deep emotion; impression; inspiration

  • 激減げきげん
    N1

    dramatic decrease; sharp drop; sudden fall

  • 激戦げきせん

    fierce battle; hard-fought battle; hot contest; severe fight

  • 激突げきとつ

    crash; smashing (into); ramming; (violent) collision

  • 激するげきする

    to intensify

  • 激化げきか

    intensification; aggravation

  • 激励げきれい
    N1

    encouragement; spurring (on); cheering (on)

  • 激痛げきつう

    sharp pain; acute pain; intense pain

  • 激増げきぞう
    N2

    sharp increase; sudden rise

  • 激辛げきから

    extremely spicy; fiery hot

  • 激闘げきとう

    fierce fighting

  • 激動げきどう
    N1

    violent shock; agitation; turbulence; turmoil; upheaval; excitement

  • 激情げきじょう

    violent emotion; passion; fury

  • 激務げきむ

    exhausting work; hard work; severe duty

Explore all words using 激 →

Study

Etymology

激 combines 氵 (water) with 敫, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of striking or stirring. The compound suggests water being violently agitated or splashing.

Meaning mnemonic

Water 氵 on the left and 敫 (a shape associated with striking) on the right: imagine water being violently struck, splashing and churning in a furious torrent.

Reading mnemonic

For ゲキ, picture a geyser erupting violently: geyser -> ゲキ, and the water shoots up with intense, excited force.