go upstream, retrace the past

About this kanji

The kanji 遡, pronounced as ‘saku’ in on'yomi and ‘sakanoboru’ in kun'yomi, means to go upstream or to retrace the past. Typically, it is used as a verb, as in the compound 遡る (sakanoboru), which means 'to go upstream.' You might also encounter the noun 遡及 (sokyuu), referring to retroactivity, and 遡源 (sakugen), which means 'going to the source.' This kanji is often used metaphorically to indicate looking back to earlier times or origins, making it useful in discussions about history or personal memories.

Example sentences

• 川を遡る旅が始まった。

  The journey upstream on the river has begun.

Meanings across languages

English

go upstream, retrace the past

Tiếng Việt

đi ngược dòng

日本語

遡

한국어

거슬러 올라가다

中文

溯

id

naik arus

th

ไหลย้อนกลับ

es

subir corriente

fr

remonter le courant

de

aufwärts gehen

pt

subir

Common compounds

• 遡るさかのぼるto go upstream, to go up (a river), to go back (to the past or origin)
• 遡及そきゅうretroactivity, retroaction, being retroactive (to)
• 遡源さくげんgoing to the source, tracing to the origin
• 遡上そじょうgoing upstream, swimming upstream
• 遡行そこうgoing upstream, sailing against the current
• 遡求そきゅうredemption, recourse
• 遡及的そきゅうてきretroactive
• 遡河魚そかぎょanadromous fish (fish that migrates upstream, e.g. salmon)

Words using this kanji