淑
graceful, gentle, pure
Readings
On'yomi
- シュク
Kun'yomi
- しと.やか
Nanori
- すく
- とし
- よし
Meaning
淑 centers on a refined, gentle quality: graceful movement, a pure heart, or a calm and gentle nature.
Most common words using 淑
- 淑女しゅくじょ
lady
- 淑やかしとやかN1
graceful; ladylike; modest; gentle; polite; quiet; well-mannered; refined (behavior)
- 貞淑ていしゅく
chastity; virtue; fidelity; feminine modesty
- 淑徳しゅくとく
womanly virtues
- お淑やかおしとやか
graceful; ladylike; modest; gentle; polite; quiet; well-mannered; refined (behavior)
- 愛知淑徳大学あいちしゅくとくだいがく
Aichi Shukutoku University
- 淑女風しゅくじょふう
ladylike; in the manner of a lady
- 淑徳大学しゅくとくだいがく
Shukutoku University
- 淑徳大学短期大学部しゅくとくだいがくたんきだいがくぶ
Shukutoku University Junior College
- 淑景舎しげいしゃ
court ladies' residence (in the inner Heian Palace)
- 私淑ししゅく
looking up to a person as one's own master or model; being influenced by a person through his works; idolizing
- 紳士淑女しんししゅくじょ
ladies and gentlemen
Study
Etymology
淑 combines 氵 (water) with 叔, which likely contributes the sound. The water radical often appears in characters describing purity or clarity, fitting the graceful and pure meanings.
Meaning mnemonic
Water 氵 beside 叔 suggests clear, still water that moves gently and gracefully. Picture a pure mountain stream flowing with a soft, graceful sound.
Reading mnemonic
For シュク, imagine a graceful, pure person named Shuku who moves like water: Shuku -> シュク, and her gentle nature is as clear as a stream.