積
volume, product (x*y), acreage, contents, pile up, stack, load, amass
Readings
On'yomi
- セキ
Kun'yomi
- つ.む
- -づ.み
- つ.もる
- つ.もり
Nanori
- か
- さか
- しゃこ
- ずみ
- つみ
Meaning
積 centers on accumulation: piling things up, stacking, loading, or amassing. The mathematical and spatial senses (volume, product, acreage, contents) are natural extensions of this idea of gathered quantity.
Most common words using 積
24 of 289- 積もりつもりN4
intention; plan; purpose; expectation
- 積極せっきょくN3
active; positive; progressive
- 積むつむN3
to pile up; to stack
- 面積めんせきN3
area (measurement); square measure; size (of land); floor space
- 蓄積ちくせきN1
accumulation; accumulate; store
- 積み重ねつみかさね
pile; accumulation
- 集積しゅうせき
accumulation
- 見積もりみつもりN1
estimate; estimation; valuation; quotation
- 積もるつもるN4
to pile up; to accumulate
- 積せき
product
- 積雪せきせつN1
fallen snow; snow cover
- 積載せきさい
loading; carrying
- 累積るいせき
accumulation
- 体積たいせきN2
capacity; volume
- 積立つみたてN1
saving; savings; accumulation; putting aside; reserving
- 堆積たいせきN1
accumulation; pile; heap
- 容積ようせきN2
capacity; volume
- 積算せきさん
addition; adding up
- 山積さんせきN1
piling up; accumulating; forming a (huge) pile; lying in piles
- 積み重ねるつみかさねる
to pile up; to accumulate
- 上積みうわづみ
loading on top; piling on top; upper load; goods loaded on top; deck cargo
- 積み込むつみこむ
to load (with goods, cargo); to put on board; to stow aboard
- 積極的せっきょくてきN3
positive; assertive; active; proactive; aggressive
- 積ん読つんどく
buying books and not reading them; stockpiling books; tsundoku
Study
Etymology
積 combines 禾 (grain) with 責, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of piling or accumulating. The original sense may have been gathering harvested grain into stacks.
Meaning mnemonic
Grain 禾 piled up under a roof-like 責 shape: imagine a barn filled with stacked sacks of rice, accumulating volume and weight.
Reading mnemonic
For セキ, picture a stack of grain so high it blocks the sun, creating a shadowy 'seki' (セキ) corner. The piled-up grain casts a dark seki-shaped shadow.