討
chastise, attack, defeat, destroy, conquer
Readings
On'yomi
- トウ
Kun'yomi
- う.つ
Meaning
討 centers on aggressive action to overcome an opponent: chastising, attacking, defeating, destroying, or conquering. The common thread is forceful confrontation aimed at subduing.
Most common words using 討
20 of 60- 検討けんとうN3
consideration; examination; investigation; study; scrutiny; discussion; analysis; review
- 討論とうろんN1
debate; discussion
- 討伐とうばつ
subjugation (using military force); suppression; subduing
- 討つうつN2
to attack; to destroy; to defeat; to conquer; to avenge
- 返り討ちかえりうち
killing a would-be avenger
- 討議とうぎN1
debate; discussion
- 掃討そうとう
cleaning up (enemy remnants); sweeping clean (of opponents); mopping up
- 追い討ちおいうち
attacking a fleeing enemy
- 討ち死にうちじに
death in battle; death on the battlefield
- 討滅とうめつ
destroying; annihilating; eradicating
- 敵討ちかたきうち
vengeance; revenge; retaliation
- 仇討ちあだうち
vengeance; revenge; retaliation
- 討ち入りうちいり
storming (e.g. an enemy's castle); attack; raid
- 追討ついとう
tracking down and killing; punitive expedition
- 再検討さいけんとう
re-examination; review; reconsideration; reappraisal
- 同士討ちどうしうち
friendly fire; killing each other by mistake
- 夜討ちようち
night attack
- だまし討ちだましうち
surprise attack; sneak attack; foul play
- 上意討ちじょういうち
execution (on the command of a feudal lord)
- 仇を討つかたきをうつ
to avenge (someone) by striking down their killer
Study
Etymology
討 combines 言 (words) and 寸 (a hand with a tool, often associated with action or measurement). The combination suggests using words to direct or measure out punishment, leading to the idea of chastising or attacking.
Meaning mnemonic
Words (言) plus a hand holding a tool (寸) suggest using speech to command an attack or to measure out punishment. Imagine a general giving a speech before ordering the troops to strike.
Reading mnemonic
For トウ, imagine a toe (トウ) being stepped on, prompting an angry verbal attack: toe -> トウ, and the words lead to chastisement.