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Kotomora

夙

bright and early, long ago, early in life

Strokes6

Readings

On'yomi

  • シュク

Kun'yomi

  • つとに
  • はやい

Meaning

夙 centers on doing something early: rising bright and early, acting long ago, or starting early in life. It conveys a sense of being ahead of the usual time.

Most common words using 夙

  • 夙しゅく

    outcasts common around the Kyoto region from the Kamakura period to the Edo period

  • 夙につとに

    for a long time; since long ago; from childhood

  • 夙夜しゅくや

    from morning till night; day and night; always

  • 夙志しゅくし

    long-cherished desire

  • 夙成しゅくせい

    precocity

Explore all words using 夙 →

Study

Etymology

夙 combines 歹 (remnant, bare bones) with 几 (table, enclosure). The exact historical origin is uncertain, but it likely depicted something done in the early morning or at dawn, perhaps related to preparing or working while it is still dark.

Meaning mnemonic

Imagine a bare-bones remnant (歹) of the night still lingering inside the enclosure (几) of dawn. You rise bright and early, before the darkness fully fades, getting a head start on the day.

Reading mnemonic

For シュク, picture a shoe (シュ) that you put on quickly (ク) in the early morning. The shoe-cue (シュク) reminds you to start bright and early.