Skip to content
Kotomora

誓

vow, swear, pledge

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 2,000Strokes14

Readings

On'yomi

  • セイ

Kun'yomi

  • ちか.う

Meaning

誓 centers on a formal, binding declaration: making a vow, swearing an oath, or giving a pledge. The idea is a spoken commitment that carries weight.

Most common words using 誓

20 of 36
  • 誓うちかう
    N2

    to swear; to vow; to take an oath; to pledge

  • 宣誓せんせい

    oath; abjuration; pledge

  • 誓約せいやく

    oath; vow; pledge; covenant

  • 誓願せいがん

    (religious) vow

  • 誓文せいもん

    written oath

  • 誓言せいげん

    oath; vow; attestation; solemn pledge

  • 誓ってちかって

    surely; upon my word; by Jove

  • 誓いちかい

    oath; vow

  • 誓約書せいやくしょ

    written oath; covenant; pledge

  • ヒポクラテスの誓いヒポクラテスのちかい

    Hippocratic oath

  • 五箇条の御誓文ごかじょうのごせいもん

    Charter Oath (of the Meiji Emperor); Five-Point Imperial Covenant; Imperial Oath of Five Articles

  • 修道誓願しゅうどうせいがん

    vows of religious orders

  • 偽り誓ういつわりちかう

    to swear falsely

  • 偽誓ぎせい

    perjury; false oath

  • 共同宣誓供述書きょうどうせんせいきょうじゅつしょ

    joint affidavit

  • 宣誓人せんせいじん

    affiant (person who executes an affidavit)

  • 宣誓供述書せんせいきょうじゅつしょ

    affidavit

  • 宣誓式せんせいしき

    administration of an oath

  • 宣誓書せんせいしょ

    (written) oath

  • 宣誓陳述書せんせいちんじゅつしょ

    sworn statement

Explore all words using 誓 →

Study

Etymology

誓 combines 折 (break, bend) and 言 (words), suggesting words that are firm or unbreakable, i.e., a vow. The exact historical development of the 折 component is uncertain, but the combination is well established.

Meaning mnemonic

The top part 折 looks like an axe (斤) cutting something, and the bottom 言 is words. Imagine cutting words into stone to make an unbreakable vow.

Reading mnemonic

For セイ, picture a solemn ceremony where you say your vow: 'say' -> セイ, and your words become a binding pledge.