誅
death penalty
Readings
On'yomi
- チュウ
- チュ
Kun'yomi
- ちゅう.する
- ころ.す
- せ.める
Meaning
誅 centers on the death penalty as a formal punishment, often involving execution or condemnation.
Most common words using 誅
- 天誅てんちゅう
heaven's punishment; divine punishment
- 誅殺ちゅうさつ
execution of a criminal
- 族誅ぞくちゅう
execution of an offender's entire family as a deterrent to others (predominantly in Chinese history)
- 筆誅ひっちゅう
written denunciation
- 苛斂誅求かれんちゅうきゅう
exaction of heavy taxes; imposing oppressive taxes
- 誅ちゅう
death penalty
- 誅するちゅうする
to put to death (e.g. a sinner, traitor, etc.); to punish someone with death
- 誅伐ちゅうばつ
assailing criminals
- 誅戮ちゅうりく
putting a criminal to death; punishment by execution; death penalty
- 誅求ちゅうきゅう
oppressive exaction (of taxes, etc.)
- 誅滅ちゅうめつ
eradication of sinful people; smiting of the wicked
Study
Etymology
誅 combines 言 (words, speech) with 朱, which likely contributes the sound. The character originally referred to verbal condemnation or sentencing, especially to death.
Meaning mnemonic
Words (言) beside 朱, which resembles a tree with a red mark, suggesting a formal pronouncement of a death sentence.
Reading mnemonic
For チュウ, imagine a judge saying 'chew' as they pronounce the death penalty: chew -> チュウ, and the words seal the fate.