謁
audience, audience (with king)
Readings
On'yomi
- エツ
Kun'yomi
—
Meaning
謁 centers on a formal meeting with a superior, especially a king or ruler. The core idea is a respectful audience or visit to someone of high status.
Most common words using 謁
- 謁見えっけん
audience (with a superior, e.g. nobility)
- 拝謁はいえつ
audience with someone of high rank (e.g. the emperor)
- 内謁ないえつ
private audience
- 来謁らいえつ
visiting and meeting someone (of higher status)
- 請謁せいえつ
beseeching; requesting (an audience)
- 謁えつ
audience (with a superior, e.g. nobility)
- 謁すえっす
to have an audience (with)
- 謁するえっする
to have an audience (with)
- 謁見の間えっけんのま
throne room; audience chamber
- 面謁めんえつ
audience with someone of high rank
Study
Etymology
謁 combines 言 (speech) with 曷, which likely contributes the sound and may relate to stopping or meeting. The character originally referred to speaking in a formal audience.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side is 言 (words), and the right side 曷 looks like a person kneeling under a roof with a sun above, suggesting a formal meeting. Imagine speaking respectfully before a king in an audience chamber.
Reading mnemonic
For エツ, picture an audience with a king where you must say 'Yes' (エツ sounds like 'ets' from 'yes' with a clipped ending). The formal words 言 lead to a respectful 'ets' of agreement.