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Kotomora

血

blood

JLPTN2StatusJōyō · grade 3FrequencyTop 1,000Strokes6

Readings

On'yomi

  • ケツ

Kun'yomi

  • ち

Meaning

血 centers on blood as the vital fluid of life, covering its literal sense and its symbolic use for lineage or deep connection.

Most common words using 血

23 of 558
  • 血ち
    N4

    blood

  • 血液けつえき
    N3

    blood

  • 出血しゅっけつ
    N1

    bleeding; haemorrhage; hemorrhage

  • 血管けっかん
    N2

    blood vessel; vein

  • 吸血鬼きゅうけつき

    vampire; bloodsucker

  • 血圧けつあつ
    N2

    blood pressure

  • 血糖けっとう

    blood sugar

  • 鼻血はなぢ

    nosebleed

  • 貧血ひんけつ
    N1

    anemia; anaemia

  • 白血病はっけつびょう

    leukemia; leukaemia

  • 流血りゅうけつ

    bloodshed

  • 献血けんけつ
    N1

    blood donation

  • 血縁けつえん
    N1

    blood relationship; consanguinity

  • 輸血ゆけつ
    N2

    blood transfusion

  • 混血こんけつ
    N1

    mixed race; mixed parentage

  • 白血球はっけっきゅう

    white blood cell; leukocyte; leucocyte

  • 高血圧こうけつあつ
    N2

    high blood pressure; hypertension

  • 血痕けっこん

    bloodstain

  • 脳出血のうしゅっけつ

    cerebral hemorrhage; cerebral haemorrhage

  • 血友病けつゆうびょう

    hemophilia; haemophilia

  • 血液型けつえきがた
    N3

    blood type; blood group

  • 内出血ないしゅっけつ

    internal bleeding; internal haemorrhage; internal hemorrhage

  • 血液検査けつえきけんさ

    blood test; hemanalysis

Explore all words using 血 →

Study

Etymology

血 is a pictograph of a ritual vessel with a drop of blood inside, representing blood as a sacred substance. The modern form retains the vessel 皿 and a small top stroke suggesting the blood drop.

Meaning mnemonic

The bottom 皿 is a dish, and the small stroke on top is a drop of blood. Imagine a dish collecting a single drop of blood, making the meaning clear.

Reading mnemonic

For ケツ, picture a medical test where you get your blood checked: the nurse says 'Kets' as a short, sharp sound when drawing blood, like 'kets' -> ケツ.