拮
be imminent
Readings
On'yomi
- カツ
- ケツ
- キツ
Kun'yomi
- はたら.く
Meaning
拮 centers on a pressing, urgent closeness: something is imminent, about to happen, or bearing down. The meaning is narrow and abstract, focused on a sense of impending pressure.
Most common words using 拮
- 拮抗きっこう
rivalry (between two equally strong sides); struggle for supremacy; competing (with); vying (with); contending (with); being an equal match (for)
- 戦力拮抗せんりょくきっこう
struggle for supremacy between evenly-matched armies (teams)
- 拮抗作用きっこうさよう
antagonism
- 拮抗筋きっこうきん
antagonist (muscle)
- 拮抗薬きっこうやく
antagonist (drug)
- 拮据きっきょ
diligence; assiduity; pinching; hard toil
Study
Etymology
拮 combines 扌 (hand) with 吉, which likely contributes the sound. The exact historical development of the meaning 'be imminent' is uncertain, but the hand component may suggest pressing or grasping tightly, which fits the sense of urgent pressure.
Meaning mnemonic
The hand 扌 beside 吉 (good luck) suggests clutching at good fortune just as it is about to arrive. The kanji captures that tense moment when something is imminent.
Reading mnemonic
For カツ, imagine a cat (カツ) pressing its paw urgently against your hand, demanding attention right now. The cat's insistent pressure mirrors the imminent feeling of 拮.