Meaning & readings

suddenness, rise

On’yomi ボツ、ホツ
Kun’yomi おこ.る、にわかに

Origin

The character 勃 combines strength or force (力, the power radical on the right) with sudden movement or uprising (孛 on the left). The left component suggests something bursting forth abruptly, while the force radical indicates physical power or exertion. Together, they capture the idea of something rising up suddenly or with sudden vigor—whether a person jumping to their feet, an emotion flaring up, or a situation emerging unexpectedly. This compound structure visually and conceptually represents the abrupt, forceful nature of what the character means.

勃 9 strokes

Components

  • 孛 meaning part left
  • 力 radical right

Common words

  • 勃起 ぼっき erection (of the penis); becoming erect

Reference

Strokes
9
Kangxi radical
19
Formation type
Compound ideographic (combined meanings)
Grade
Jōyō (secondary school)
Frequency rank
—
Former JLPT
—
Unicode
U+052C3