Skip to content
Kotomora

熟

mellow, ripen, mature, acquire skill

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · grade 6FrequencyTop 2,000Strokes15

Readings

On'yomi

  • ジュク

Kun'yomi

  • う.れる

Meaning

熟 centers on the idea of something reaching its full, softened, or perfected state through time or effort: fruit ripening, flavors mellowing, a person maturing, or skills becoming polished through practice.

Most common words using 熟

20 of 99
  • 熟すこなす
    N2

    to digest

  • 熟しこなし

    carriage; movement (of the body)

  • 成熟せいじゅく
    N1

    maturity; ripeness

  • 熟練じゅくれん

    skill; expertise; experience; proficiency; mastery; dexterity

  • 熟成じゅくせい

    maturing; ripening; aging; ageing; curing; fermenting

  • 熟語じゅくご
    N2

    kanji compound

  • 熟睡じゅくすい

    deep sleep; sound sleep; profound sleep

  • 熟知じゅくち

    being familiar with; having a thorough knowledge of; being well-informed about

  • 半熟はんじゅく

    half-cooked; half-done; soft-boiled

  • 熟するじゅくする

    to ripen; to mature

  • 完熟かんじゅく

    full ripeness; full maturity

  • 習熟しゅうじゅく

    proficiency; mastery; becoming proficient (in)

  • 熟れうれ

    maturity; ripeness

  • 熟れこなれ

    digestion; digestibility

  • 熟考じゅっこう

    careful consideration; deliberation; thinking over carefully

  • 熟年じゅくねん

    mature in age and wisdom; middle-aged

  • 熟慮じゅくりょ

    deliberation; (thoughtful) consideration

  • 熟読じゅくどく

    careful reading; reading thoroughly; perusal

  • 早熟そうじゅく
    N1

    precocity; early ripening; premature development

  • 熟達じゅくたつ

    mastery

Explore all words using 熟 →

Study

Etymology

熟 combines 孰 (which historically relates to cooking or thoroughness) with 灬 (fire), suggesting the idea of cooking something until it is done, and by extension ripening, maturing, or becoming skilled.

Meaning mnemonic

The top part 孰 looks like a pot being tended, and the bottom 灬 is fire. Picture fruit simmering over fire until it becomes soft, mellow, and perfectly ripe—just like a skill that matures with practice.

Reading mnemonic

For ジュク, imagine a ripe, juicy fruit falling into a pot: 'juicy cook' blends into ジュク as the fruit mellows over the fire.