逝
departed, die
Readings
On'yomi
- セイ
Kun'yomi
- ゆ.く
- い.く
Meaning
逝 centers on the final departure of life: dying or passing away. The idea of being departed is a natural extension of that final journey.
Most common words using 逝
- 逝くいく
to die; to pass away
- 逝去せいきょ
death; passing
- 急逝きゅうせい
sudden death; unexpected death
- 善逝ぜんぜい
Sugata (the well-gone; epithet of Buddha)
- 夭逝ようせい
premature death
- 永逝えいせい
death; dying
- 薨逝こうせい
death (of a nobleman)
- 逝け面いけめん
exceptionally ugly man
- 遠逝えんせい
going afar
- 長逝ちょうせい
death; passing
- 騅逝かずすいゆかず
things going contrary to one's wishes
Study
Etymology
逝 combines 辶 (movement) with 折, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of breaking or departing. Together they suggest a final departure or passing away.
Meaning mnemonic
The movement radical 辶 wraps around 折, like a journey that breaks away from life. Picture a path leading away, with the inner part snapping shut behind: the final departure of death.
Reading mnemonic
For セイ, imagine a soul departing with a quiet sigh: say -> セイ, as the last breath leaves the body.