葬
interment, bury, shelve
Readings
On'yomi
- ソウ
Kun'yomi
- ほうむ.る
Nanori
- はふり
Meaning
葬 centers on the formal act of putting something away permanently: burying the dead, interring remains, or metaphorically shelving a matter so it is no longer active.
Most common words using 葬
20 of 72- 葬儀そうぎ
funeral; funeral service
- 埋葬まいそう
burial
- 葬式そうしきN3
funeral
- 火葬かそう
cremation
- 葬るほうむるN1
to bury; to inter; to entomb
- 葬そう
funeral
- 冠婚葬祭かんこんそうさいN1
important ceremonial occasions in family relationships
- 葬祭そうさい
funerals and ceremonial occasions
- 葬送そうそう
attending a funeral procession; seeing off the deceased; burial of someone's remains; observing a burial
- 葬列そうれつ
funeral procession
- 土葬どそう
burial; interment
- 国葬こくそう
state funeral; national funeral
- 副葬品ふくそうひん
grave goods; burial accessories
- 改葬かいそう
reburial
- 社葬しゃそう
company funeral
- 密葬みっそう
private funeral
- 水葬すいそう
burial at sea
- お葬式おそうしき
funeral
- 会葬かいそう
attendance at a funeral
- 葬儀社そうぎしゃ
undertaker's office; funeral home; funeral parlor
Study
Etymology
葬 combines 死 (death) with a grass-like element above and below, suggesting the traditional practice of covering a body with grass or placing it among plants during burial.
Meaning mnemonic
The top and bottom grass-like strokes wrap around 死 (death), like a body being covered with grass and earth during a burial. This is the kanji for interment and shelving something away.
Reading mnemonic
For ソウ, imagine a solemn burial where the soul (ソウ) of the deceased is laid to rest under the grass-covered mound: soul -> ソウ.