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JLPT N19画 · 9 strokesradical 手freq #2057

torture, beat

On'yomi (音読み)

  • ゴウ

Kun'yomi (訓読み)

Mnemonic

With a hand (手) poised to grab, the torturer prepares to beat their victim, embodying the harshness of 拷.

About this kanji

The kanji 拷, pronounced 'ゴウ' (gou), primarily means torture or to beat. It is mainly used in noun form. There are several compounds derived from this kanji, such as 拷問 (ごうもん, goumon), which means torture; 拷器 (ごうき, gouki), referring to instruments of torture; and 拷問具 (ごうもんぐ, goumongu), meaning torture devices. These compounds illustrate how 拷 relates to severe physical punishment. It's worth noting that this kanji carries very serious and dark connotations, so it isn't used in light or casual contexts. Understanding its meaning can help grasp discussions around historical or legal contexts in Japanese.

Example sentences

  • 拷問に耐えることは難しい。

    Enduring torture is difficult.

Meanings across languages

English
torture, beat
Tiếng Việt
tra tấn
日本語
拷問
한국어
고문
中文
拷问
id
penyiksaan
th
การทรมาน
es
tortura
fr
torture
de
Folter
pt
tortura

Common compounds

  • 拷問ごうもんtorture
  • 拷器ごうきinstruments of torture
  • 拷訊ごうじんtorture
  • 拷責ごうせきtorture
  • 拷問具ごうもんぐtorture device, instrument of torture
  • 拷問台ごうもんだいrack (torture device)
  • 拷問禁止条約ごうもんきんしじょうやくUnited Nations Convention Against Torture (1987)
  • 拷問等禁止条約ごうもんとうきんしじょうやくUnited Nations Convention Against Torture (1987)

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