Meaning & readings

instant, namely, as is, conform, agree, adapt

On’yomi ソク
Kun’yomi つ.く、つ.ける、すなわ.ち

Origin

This character combines two parts that together express the idea of something immediate and close. The left side, 艮, suggests stopping or halting, while the right side, 卩, represents a small enclosed space or corner. When these elements combine, they create the sense of something pressed right up against you or happening without delay—literally being right there at hand. Over time, this visual idea of immediate closeness expanded to mean "instant," "namely," and "conform to," since conforming means adapting yourself directly to what is right in front of you.

AI-generated (claude-haiku-4-5), not yet reviewed. Formation type (automated guess): Compound ideographic (combined meanings).

7 strokes

Components

  • radical left
  • radical right

Common words

  • 即ち すなわち that is (to say); namely
  • 即位 そくい accession to the throne; enthronement
  • 即興 そっきょう improvisation
  • 即効 そっこう immediate effect; instant effect
  • 即刻 そっこく immediately; at once
  • 即座 そくざ immediate; right there on the spot
  • 即死 そくし instant death
  • 即時 そくじ prompt; immediate

Reference

Strokes
7
Kangxi radical
26
Grade
Jōyō (secondary school)
Frequency rank
#1167 (newspapers)
Former JLPT
level 1
Unicode
U+05373