咎
blame, censure, reprimand
Readings
On'yomi
- キュウ
- コウ
Kun'yomi
- とが.める
- とが
Meaning
咎 centers on holding someone responsible for a fault: blaming, censuring, or formally reprimanding them.
Most common words using 咎
- 咎めとがめ
blame; censure; rebuke; reproof
- 咎とが
error; mistake; fault
- 咎めるとがめるN1
to blame; to reproach; to censure; to rebuke; to reprove; to find fault; to take to task; to criticize; to criticise
- 咎人とがにん
offender; criminal
- お咎めなしおとがめなし
no penalty; no punishment; acquittal; impunity
- 傷咎めきずとがめ
inflamed wound
- 咎め立てとがめだて
fault-finding; carping
- 既往は咎めずきおうはとがめず
don't dwell on the past; let bygones be bygones
- 良心が咎めるりょうしんがとがめる
to have a guilty conscience; to have (something) lie heavy on one's conscience
- 見咎めるみとがめる
to find fault with; to question
- 赤きは酒の咎あかきはさけのとが
it's not my fault; this red face is the alcohol's fault
Study
Etymology
咎 combines 处 (place) and 口 (mouth), but the exact historical development is uncertain. It may have originally depicted a mouth speaking blame in a particular place, though this is speculative.
Meaning mnemonic
The top 处 suggests a place, and the bottom 口 is a mouth. Picture someone standing in a public place, mouth open, blaming and reprimanding another person.
Reading mnemonic
For キュウ, imagine a person being blamed so harshly they let out a sharp, quick cry: 'kyuu!' The sound cues キュウ while the scene fits the blame meaning.