済
settle (debt, etc.), relieve (burden), finish, come to an end, excusable, need not
Readings
On'yomi
- サイ
- セイ
Kun'yomi
- す.む
- -ず.み
- -ずみ
- す.まない
- す.ます
- -す.ます
- すく.う
- な.す
- わたし
- わた.る
Nanori
- すむ
- なり
- わたる
Meaning
済 centers on bringing something to a satisfactory close: settling a debt, finishing a task, or relieving a burden. The sense of being excusable or not needing to do something extends from the idea that the matter is already resolved.
Most common words using 済
22 of 421- 経済けいざいN5
economy; economics
- 済みませんすみませんN4
excuse me; pardon me; I'm sorry; I beg your pardon
- 済むすむN4
to finish; to end; to be completed; to be resolved
- 救済きゅうさいN2
relief; aid; help; rescue
- 決済けっさい
settlement (of an account); liquidation of debts; payment
- 返済へんさいN2
repayment; reimbursement; refund; redemption
- 済ますすますN2
to finish; to get it over with; to conclude
- 済まないすまないN2
inexcusable; unjustifiable; unpardonable
- 済ませるすませるN3
to finish; to make an end of; to get through with; to let end
- 共済きょうさい
mutual aid
- 弁済べんさいN1
repayment; settlement (of a debt); paying off; reimbursement (of expenses)
- 経済的けいざいてきN1
economic; financial
- 経済界けいざいかい
economic world; financial circles; business community
- 経済企画庁けいざいきかくちょう
Economic Planning Agency (1955-2001)
- 使用済みしようずみN2
used (ticket, stamp, etc.); spent (fuel, battery, etc.)
- 経済研究所けいざいけんきゅうじょ
economic research institute
- 経済成長率けいざいせいちょうりつ
rate of economic growth
- 経済封鎖けいざいふうさ
economic blockade; embargo
- 自由経済じゆうけいざい
free economy
- 日本経済にほんけいざい
Japanese economy
- 決済方法けっさいほうほう
payment method
- 経済学けいざいがく
economics
Study
Etymology
済 combines 氵 (water) with 斉, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of evenness or leveling. The original sense may have been crossing a river, from which the ideas of finishing and settling developed.
Meaning mnemonic
Water 氵 flows evenly 斉, like a river crossing that brings you to the other side. When you cross, the journey is finished and debts are settled.
Reading mnemonic
For サイ, imagine a sigh of relief when a debt is finally settled: sigh -> サイ, and the water washes the burden away.