賊
burglar, rebel, traitor, robber
Readings
On'yomi
- ゾク
Kun'yomi
—
Meaning
賊 centers on a person who takes or acts against rightful order: a burglar or robber who steals property, or a rebel or traitor who betrays a group or state.
Most common words using 賊
20 of 65- 烏賊いかN1
cuttlefish; squid
- 海賊かいぞく
pirate
- 盗賊とうぞく
thief; robber; burglar; bandit
- 山賊さんぞく
bandit; brigand
- 海賊版かいぞくばんN1
pirated edition; pirated version; bootleg copy
- 賊ぞく
thief; robber; burglar
- 国賊こくぞく
traitor (to one's country)
- 蛍烏賊ほたるいか
firefly squid (Watasenia scintillans); sparkling enope squid
- 逆賊ぎゃくぞく
rebel; traitor; insurgent
- 義賊ぎぞく
chivalrous thief
- 賊軍ぞくぐん
rebel army
- 馬賊ばぞく
mounted bandit (esp. in north-east China from the end of the Qing dynasty)
- 槍烏賊やりいか
spear squid (Loligo bleekeri)
- 乱臣賊子らんしんぞくし
rebels against one's lord and one's parents; rebellious (treacherous) subject; traitor
- 余賊よぞく
remaining bandits; unconquered rebels; escaped thieves
- 凶賊きょうぞく
violent robber; villain
- 剣先烏賊けんさきいか
swordtip squid (Photololigo edulis)
- 勝てば官軍、負ければ賊軍かてばかんぐん、まければぞくぐん
might is right; history is written by the victors; winners are always right and losers are always in the wrong; if you win you are the loyalist army, if you lose you are the rebel army
- 匪賊ひぞく
bandit; rebel
- 反賊はんぞく
rebel
Study
Etymology
賊 combines 貝 (shell, representing valuables) with 戎, which likely contributes both sound and the idea of armed force or destruction. Together they suggest using force to take valuables.
Meaning mnemonic
On the left, 貝 (shells/valuables) is being grabbed by the right side 戎, which looks like a weapon-wielding figure. Picture a burglar using force to steal treasure.
Reading mnemonic
For ゾク, imagine a robber moving in a sneaky, zombie-like shuffle: zombie -> ゾク, and the thief creeps toward the valuables.