贖
redeem
Readings
On'yomi
- ショク
Kun'yomi
- あがな.う
Meaning
贖 centers on buying back or paying a price to restore something: to redeem, atone, or make amends.
Most common words using 贖
- 贖罪しょくざい
atonement
- 贖うあがなう
to atone for; to expiate; to redeem; to make up for; to compensate for
- 贖いあがない
atonement; redemption; compensation
- 贖宥しょくゆう
indulgence (in the Catholic Church)
- 贖宥状しょくゆうじょう
indulgence (religious)
- 贖罪の山羊しょくざいのやぎ
sacrificial goat; scapegoat
- 贖罪の日しょくざいのひ
Yom Kippur; Day of Atonement
- 贖罪の羊しょくざいのひつじ
sacrificial lamb
- 贖罪意識しょくざいいしき
sense of atonement
Study
Etymology
贖 combines 貝 (shell, money) with 賣 (sell), suggesting a transaction where money is used to buy back or redeem something.
Meaning mnemonic
Shells (貝) were used as money, and 賣 means to sell. Together, 贖 shows using money to buy back something that was sold—redeeming it.
Reading mnemonic
For ショク, imagine redeeming a pawned item with a shock of realization that you need it back: shock -> ショク, and you pay the price to get it back.