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Kotomora

支

branch, support, sustain, branch radical (no. 65)

JLPTN3StatusJōyō · grade 5FrequencyTop 200Strokes4

Readings

On'yomi

  • シ

Kun'yomi

  • ささ.える
  • つか.える
  • か.う

Meaning

支 centers on the idea of holding something up or branching out from a central point: physically supporting or sustaining something, or a branch that diverges from a main line. The radical sense is the same character used as a component.

Most common words using 支

24 of 295
  • 支援しえん
    N2

    support; backing; aid; assistance

  • 支配しはい
    N3

    rule; domination; control

  • 支持しじ
    N2

    support; backing; endorsement; approval

  • 支払うしはらう
    N3

    to pay

  • 支払いしはらい
    N3

    payment

  • 支給しきゅう
    N2

    provision; supply; payment; allowance; grant

  • 支店してん
    N3

    branch office; branch store

  • 支部しぶ

    branch; branch office; subdivision

  • 支えるささえる
    N3

    to support; to prop; to sustain; to underlay; to hold up; to defend

  • 支障ししょう

    obstacle; hindrance; impediment; difficulty

  • 支出ししゅつ
    N3

    expenditure; disbursement; expenses

  • 支度したく
    N4

    preparation; arrangements

  • 収支しゅうし
    N1

    income and expenditure

  • 支局しきょく
    N1

    branch office

  • 支配人しはいにん

    manager; executive

  • 支社ししゃ
    N1

    branch office

  • 支柱しちゅう

    prop; stay; support; brace; fulcrum

  • 差し支えさしつかえ
    N2

    hindrance; impediment

  • 切支丹キリシタン

    Christianity (in feudal Japan); Christian

  • 気管支きかんし

    bronchus; bronchial tube

  • 支所ししょ

    branch (office)

  • 支流しりゅう

    tributary; branch

  • 差し支えるさしつかえる
    N1

    to interfere (with); to hinder; to be hindered (from doing); to become impeded; to have difficulty; to suffer inconvenience

  • 支店長してんちょう

    branch manager; manager of a branch office

Explore all words using 支 →

Study

Etymology

支 originally depicted a hand holding a branch or a forked object, combining 十 (a branch or cross shape) and 又 (a hand). This gives the dual sense of a physical branch and the act of supporting or sustaining.

Meaning mnemonic

The top 十 looks like a forked branch, and the bottom 又 is a hand. Picture a hand holding a branch to support a plant or to show a branching path.

Reading mnemonic

For シ, imagine a hand supporting a branch while saying 'shh' to keep it steady: shh -> シ, and the branch stays in place.