嫡
legitimate wife, direct descent (non-bastard)
Readings
On'yomi
- チャク
- テキ
Kun'yomi
—
Meaning
嫡 centers on the concept of a legitimate wife and the direct, recognized line of descent from her, as opposed to children from concubines.
Most common words using 嫡
- 嫡男ちゃくなん
legitimate son (esp. eldest son); heir
- 嫡出ちゃくしゅつ
legitimate birth
- 嫡子ちゃくし
heir
- 嫡々ちゃくちゃく
legitimate family succession; direct family lineage
- 嫡出子ちゃくしゅつし
legitimate child
- 嫡出推定ちゃくしゅつすいてい
presumption of legitimacy; presumption of child in wedlock; presumption that the ex-husband is the father of a woman's child born within 300 days of their divorce
- 嫡嗣ちゃくし
legitimate heir
- 嫡女ちゃくじょ
eldest daughter of a married couple; eldest legitimate daughter
- 嫡妻ちゃくさい
one's legal wife; legitimate wife
- 嫡孫ちゃくそん
eldest son's descendants
- 嫡室ちゃくしつ
one's legal wife; legitimate wife
- 嫡披ちゃくひ
confidential letter
- 嫡流ちゃくりゅう
lineage of eldest son
- 廃嫡はいちゃく
disinheritance
- 正嫡せいちゃく
legal wife; her child; main family
- 非嫡出子ひちゃくしゅつし
illegitimate child
Study
Etymology
嫡 combines 女 (woman) with 啇, which likely contributes the sound and relates to the idea of a legitimate wife and direct descent.
Meaning mnemonic
A woman 女 beside the distinctive shape 啇: imagine a wife whose status is officially recognized, making her children the direct heirs.
Reading mnemonic
For チャク, picture a legitimate wife wearing a traditional choker necklace as a symbol of her recognized status: choker -> チャク.