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Kotomora

隷

slave, servant, prisoner, criminal, follower

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 5,000Strokes16

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

Explore all words using 隷 →

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.