Readings: コウ (Onyomi), せ.める (Kunyomi)
Meaning: attack, assault, invade, conquer, major (field of study)
The kanji 攻 combines 𠂤 (a phonetic component that can represent a small mound or hill) and 殳 (ほこづくり), which means “weapon” or “lance.” The combination suggests “attacking with a weapon” or “assaulting a fortified position.”
View JLPT N1 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 攻 consists of 7 strokes. It starts with the two strokes of 厶, followed by the left-side radical 夂 (fuyu-gashira) and then the right-side radical 殳 (hokozukuri). Pay attention to the order and direction of each stroke, especially the diagonal strokes.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 殳 |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 7 |
| JLPT Level | N1 |
| Grade | S |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- コウ (Kō)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- せめる (semeru)
Common Words Using 攻
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 攻撃 | こうげき | attack, assault |
| 専攻 | せんこう | major (field of study) |
| 攻勢 | こうせい | offensive, aggressive |
| 進攻 | しんこう | advance, invasion |
| 反攻 | はんこう | counterattack |
| 速攻 | そっこう | quick attack, swift action |
| 猛攻 | もうこう | fierce attack |
| 攻守 | こうしゅ | offense and defense |
| 攻城 | こうじょう | siege, attack on a castle |
| 攻囲 | こうい | besiege, encircle |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 攻める | せめる | to attack, to assault, to blame, to criticize |
| 攻め立てる | せめたてる | to attack repeatedly, to press hard |
| 攻め入る | せめいる | to invade, to break into |
| 攻め落とす | せめおとす | to capture (a castle, fort) by attack |
| 攻め込む | せめこむ | to attack deep into (enemy territory) |
| 攻め寄せる | せめよせる | to close in for an attack |
| 攻め手 | せめて | attacker, attacking side |
| 攻め合い | せめあい | mutual attack, attacking each other |
| 攻め口 | せめぐち | attacking point, opening for attack |
| 攻め続ける | せめつづける | to keep attacking |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 敵を攻撃する。
Kana: てきをこうげきする。
Romaji: Teki o kōgeki suru.
English: To attack the enemy.
Japanese: 彼は経済学を専攻している。
Kana: かれはけいざいがくをせんこうしている。
Romaji: Kare wa keizai-gaku o senkō shite iru.
English: He is majoring in economics.
Japanese: チームは積極的に攻めた。
Kana: チームはせっきょくてきにせめた。
Romaji: Chīmu wa sekkyokuteki ni semeta.
English: The team attacked aggressively.
Japanese: ライバルチームに猛攻を仕掛けた。
Kana: ライバルチームにもうこうをしかけた。
Romaji: Raibaru chīmu ni mōkō o shikaketa.
English: They launched a fierce attack on the rival team.
Japanese: 守りよりも攻めが大切だ。
Kana: まもりよりもせめがたいせつだ。
Romaji: Mamori yori mo seme ga taisetsu da.
English: Attack is more important than defense.
Japanese: この戦争で敵国に攻め入った。
Kana: このせんそうでてきこくをせめいった。
Romaji: Kono sensō de tekkoku o semeitta.
English: They invaded the enemy country in this war.
Japanese: 会社の弱点を攻める。
Kana: かいしゃのじゃくてんをせめる。
Romaji: Kaisha no jakuten o semeru.
English: To attack the company’s weaknesses (criticize).
Japanese: 彼は新しい戦略で相手を攻めた。
Kana: かれはあたらしいせんりゃくであいてをせめた。
Romaji: Kare wa atarashii senryaku de aite o semeta.
English: He attacked his opponent with a new strategy.
Japanese: 速攻で試合を決めた。
Kana: そっこうでしあいをきめた。
Romaji: Sokko de shiai o kimeta.
English: They decided the game with a quick attack.
Japanese: 反攻作戦が成功した。
Kana: はんこうさくせんがせいこうした。
Romaji: Hankō sakusen ga seikō shita.
English: The counterattack operation was successful.
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