Meaning & readings
system, law, rule
On’yomi セイ
Origin
This character combines the "cloth" radical on the left (suggesting material or textile work) with a phonetic component on the right that hints at the pronunciation. The connection to "system" and "rule" likely developed because in ancient times, laws and regulations were often inscribed or marked on fabric materials used for official purposes. The character's structure evolved to represent the idea of an established order or制定 (制+定, meaning "to establish") — something fixed and determined, much like woven fabric has a set pattern.
Components
This character is treated as a single, undivided shape (制).
Common words
- 管制 かんせい control (by the state); controlling
- 規制 きせい regulation; (traffic) policing
- 旧制 きゅうせい old system; old order
- 強制 きょうせい compulsion; coercion
- 禁制 きんせい prohibition; ban
- 自制 じせい self-control; self-restraint
- 新制 しんせい new system; new order
- 制圧 せいあつ gaining total control (of people or counties); suppression
Reference
- Strokes
- 8
- Kangxi radical
- 18
- Formation type
- Pictographic or simple
- Grade
- Grade 5 (Kyōiku)
- Frequency rank
- #108 (newspapers)
- Former JLPT
- level 2
- Unicode
- U+05236