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Kotomora

苛

torment, scold, chastise

StatusJōyō · secondary schoolStrokes8

Readings

On'yomi

  • カ

Kun'yomi

  • いじ.める
  • さいな.む
  • いらだ.つ
  • からい
  • こまかい

Meaning

苛 centers on causing suffering through harsh treatment: tormenting, scolding, or chastising someone severely.

Most common words using 苛

20 of 23
  • 苛々いらいら
    N3

    to get irritated; to get annoyed; to be on the edge; to fret; to lose patience

  • 苛めるいじめる
    N4

    to ill-treat; to bully; to torment; to pick on; to tease; to be cruel to; to persecute

  • 苛立ちいらだち

    irritation; annoyance; frustration

  • 苛むさいなむ

    to torment; to torture; to afflict; to harrow

  • 苛立ついらだつ

    to be irritated; to get annoyed; to lose one's patience

  • 苛烈かれつ

    severe; fierce; stern

  • 苛性かせい

    caustic

  • 苛性ソーダかせいソーダ

    caustic soda; sodium hydroxide

  • ネット苛めネットいじめ

    cyberbullying; online harassment

  • 切り苛むきりさいなむ

    to cut to pieces; to torment

  • 苛ちいらち

    in a hurry; hustle; person who's always in a rush

  • 苛つくいらつく

    to get irritated

  • 苛性アルカリかせいアルカリ

    caustic alkali; lye

  • 苛性カリかせいカリ

    caustic potash; potassium hydroxide

  • 苛政かせい

    tyranny; despotism

  • 苛斂かれん

    oppressive exaction (of taxes, etc.)

  • 苛斂誅求かれんちゅうきゅう

    exaction of heavy taxes; imposing oppressive taxes

  • 苛税かぜい

    heavy taxation

  • 苛立たしいいらだたしい

    irritating; frustrating

  • 苛立たしげいらだたしげ

    antsy; agitated; irritated; anxious; vexed

Explore all words using 苛 →

Study

Etymology

苛 combines the grass radical 艹 with 可, which likely contributes the sound. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the character is associated with harshness or severity.

Meaning mnemonic

The grass radical 艹 on top of 可 suggests something harsh growing over what is acceptable, like weeds choking a garden. This harshness becomes torment and scolding.

Reading mnemonic

For カ, imagine a harsh crow cawing tormentingly: caw -> カ, and the sharp sound matches the scolding nature of the kanji.