instead, on the contrary, rather, step back, withdraw, retreat
却 centers on a reversal or turning away: stepping back, withdrawing, or doing something contrary to expectation. The core idea is a movement opposite to forward progress, which naturally extends to meanings like 'instead' or 'on the contrary'.
却 is the modern simplified form of 卻. The older form combines 谷 (valley) with 卩 (a kneeling person), suggesting a person retreating or turning away. The modern form replaces 谷 with 去 (go away), which reinforces the idea of withdrawal.
The left side 去 means 'go away', and the right side 卩 looks like a person kneeling or stepping back. Together they show someone stepping back and going away, which captures the idea of withdrawing or doing the opposite.
For キャク, imagine a person stepping back from a giant 'kyak' sound—like a sudden, sharp noise that makes you retreat. Kyak -> キャク, and you withdraw from the startling sound.
selling off; disposal by sale; sale
cooling; refrigeration
on the contrary; rather; instead; all the more
rejection; dismissal
return of something; repayment
incineration; destruction by fire
ridding oneself; freeing oneself of; growing out of; overcoming; outgrowing
retreat; withdrawal; retirement
lapse of memory; forgetting completely; (consigning to) oblivion
rejection; dismissal; turning down; abandoning; renunciation
repayment; redemption
extinguishment; destruction; effacement
rejection
incinerated ash; burned ash; ash
gas-cooled reactor
fan-equipped cooling system; fan-cooled system
Liebig condenser
primary cooling water
secondary cooling water (esp. in a pressurized water reactor)
off-market real estate sale; negotiated sale due to loan repayment issues