字 Kanji Decipher

Meaning & readings

suck, imbibe, inhale, sip

On’yomi キュウ
Kun’yomi す.う

Origin

The character 吸 combines the mouth radical 口 on the left, which marks this as a word related to the mouth and breathing, with 及 on the right as a sound hint that suggests the "kyuu" pronunciation. The mouth component directly connects to the meaning of inhaling and sucking, since these are actions performed through the mouth. The shape visually suggests something being drawn in through the mouth toward the body.

吸 6 strokes

Components

  • 口 radical left
  • 及 sound hint right

A sound hint component points at the character’s pronunciation, not its meaning — don’t read a meaning into it.

Common words

  • 吸う すう to breathe in; to inhale
  • 吸引 きゅういん absorption; suction
  • 吸収 きゅうしゅう absorption; suction
  • 吸入 きゅうにゅう inhalation
  • 呼吸 こきゅう breathing; respiration
  • 吸血鬼 きゅうけつき vampire; bloodsucker
  • 呼吸器 こきゅうき respiratory organs
  • 吸い殻 すいがら cigarette end; cigarette butt

Related kanji

Same sound component 及
Same radical

Easily confused with

These look alike but are unrelated in meaning — check the stroke that differs.

Reference

Strokes
6
Kangxi radical
30
Formation type
Phono-semantic (meaning + sound hint)
Grade
Grade 6 (Kyōiku)
Frequency rank
#1054 (newspapers)
Former JLPT
level 2
Unicode
U+05438