Skip to content
Kotomora

犠

sacrifice

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 2,000Strokes17

Readings

On'yomi

  • ギ
  • キ

Kun'yomi

  • いけにえ

Meaning

犠 centers on offering something valuable, especially an animal, for a higher purpose: sacrifice. The meaning extends naturally to the idea of giving up something important.

Most common words using 犠

Explore all words using 犠 →

Study

Etymology

犠 is the modern simplified form of 犧. The older form combines 牛 (cow) with 義, which likely contributed the sound and the idea of righteousness or proper conduct, suggesting a proper ritual animal sacrifice.

Meaning mnemonic

A cow 牛 stands beside 義, a shape associated with righteousness. Picture a righteous ceremony where a cow is offered as a sacrifice.

Reading mnemonic

For ギ, imagine a sacrificial ceremony where the key item is a giant ghee lamp: ghee -> ギ, and the cow's ghee is offered in sacrifice.