隷
slave, servant, prisoner, criminal, follower
Readings
On'yomi
- レイ
Kun'yomi
- したが.う
- しもべ
Meaning
隷 centers on a person in a subordinate, unfree position: a slave, servant, prisoner, or follower bound to another's will.
Most common words using 隷
20 of 30- 奴隷どれい
slave; servant
- 隷属れいぞく
subordination; servitude; servility; vassalage; slavery
- 隷れい
clerical script (ancient, highly angular style of kanji)
- 隷従れいじゅう
slavery
- 隷書れいしょ
clerical script (ancient, highly angular style of kanji)
- 奴隷制どれいせい
(system of) slavery
- 奴隷制度どれいせいど
(system of) slavery
- 奴隷制度廃止どれいせいどはいし
abolition of slavery
- 奴隷労働どれいろうどう
slave labor; slave labour
- 奴隷商人どれいしょうにん
slaver; slave trader
- 奴隷契約どれいけいやく
slave contract (in the entertainment industry); harsh, slave-like long-term contract
- 奴隷根性どれいこんじょう
servile character (disposition)
- 奴隷王朝どれいおうちょう
Slave dynasty (of India; 1206-1290); Mamluk dynasty
- 奴隷船どれいせん
slave ship
- 奴隷解放どれいかいほう
emancipation of slaves
- 奴隷解放宣言どれいかいほうせんげん
Emancipation Proclamation (1863)
- 奴隷貿易どれいぼうえき
slave trade
- 奴隷道徳どれいどうとく
Sklavenmoral (slave morality, as a philosophical concept of Nietzsche)
- 性奴隷せいどれい
sex slave; sexual slavery
- 性的奴隷せいてきどれい
sex slave; sexual slavery
Study
Etymology
隷 is the modern simplified form of 隸. The older form combines 隶 (to reach, to catch) with 柰, which likely contributed the sound. The character originally referred to captives or servants, extending to slaves and followers.
Meaning mnemonic
The right side 隶 suggests a hand reaching out to grab something. The left side looks like a person under control. Together, 隷 shows someone caught and held in servitude.
Reading mnemonic
For レイ, imagine a slave laying down a ray of light for their master: lay -> レイ, and the servant follows orders.