苛
torment, scold, chastise
Readings
On'yomi
- カ
Kun'yomi
- いじ.める
- さいな.む
- いらだ.つ
- からい
- こまかい
Meaning
苛 centers on causing suffering through harsh treatment: tormenting, scolding, or chastising someone severely.
Most common words using 苛
20 of 23- 苛々いらいらN3
to get irritated; to get annoyed; to be on the edge; to fret; to lose patience
- 苛めるいじめるN4
to ill-treat; to bully; to torment; to pick on; to tease; to be cruel to; to persecute
- 苛立ちいらだち
irritation; annoyance; frustration
- 苛むさいなむ
to torment; to torture; to afflict; to harrow
- 苛立ついらだつ
to be irritated; to get annoyed; to lose one's patience
- 苛烈かれつ
severe; fierce; stern
- 苛性かせい
caustic
- 苛性ソーダかせいソーダ
caustic soda; sodium hydroxide
- ネット苛めネットいじめ
cyberbullying; online harassment
- 切り苛むきりさいなむ
to cut to pieces; to torment
- 苛ちいらち
in a hurry; hustle; person who's always in a rush
- 苛つくいらつく
to get irritated
- 苛性アルカリかせいアルカリ
caustic alkali; lye
- 苛性カリかせいカリ
caustic potash; potassium hydroxide
- 苛政かせい
tyranny; despotism
- 苛斂かれん
oppressive exaction (of taxes, etc.)
- 苛斂誅求かれんちゅうきゅう
exaction of heavy taxes; imposing oppressive taxes
- 苛税かぜい
heavy taxation
- 苛立たしいいらだたしい
irritating; frustrating
- 苛立たしげいらだたしげ
antsy; agitated; irritated; anxious; vexed
Study
Etymology
苛 combines the grass radical 艹 with 可, which likely contributes the sound. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the character is associated with harshness or severity.
Meaning mnemonic
The grass radical 艹 on top of 可 suggests something harsh growing over what is acceptable, like weeds choking a garden. This harshness becomes torment and scolding.
Reading mnemonic
For カ, imagine a harsh crow cawing tormentingly: caw -> カ, and the sharp sound matches the scolding nature of the kanji.