Skip to content
Kotomora

疫

epidemic

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 2,000Strokes9

Readings

On'yomi

  • エキ
  • ヤク

Kun'yomi

—

Meaning

疫 centers on widespread illness: an epidemic that spreads through a population.

Most common words using 疫

20 of 84

Explore all words using 疫 →

Study

Etymology

疫 combines 疒 (sickness) with 殳, which likely contributes the sound and may suggest a striking or spreading action, together conveying a spreading disease.

Meaning mnemonic

The sickness enclosure 疒 wraps around 殳, like a disease striking and spreading through a crowd. Picture an epidemic sweeping through a village.

Reading mnemonic

For エキ, imagine an epidemic spreading through a city, and everyone is saying 'eck!' in disgust: eck -> エキ.