Readings: ゲキ (Onyomi), はげ-しい (Kunyomi)
Meaning: Violent, intense, fierce, stimulate, agitate, excite
形声文字 (Keisei moji – Phono-semantic character). The left side 氵 (水 – water) indicates a water-related meaning, suggesting motion like rushing water. The right side 敫 (キョウ – kyō) provides the sound and also implies “to hit,” “to strike,” or “to stir.” Together, it conveys the idea of violent or intense movement, like turbulent water.
View JLPT N1 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 激 has 15 strokes. It begins with the water radical (氵) on the left, followed by the phonetic component on the right. Pay close attention to the correct stroke order for each part to ensure proper writing.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 氵 (水) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 15 |
| JLPT Level | N1 |
| Grade | Jōyō Kanji |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ゲキ (Geki)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- はげしい (hageshii)
Common Words Using 激
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 感激 | かんげき | deep emotion, impression, inspiration |
| 激増 | げきぞう | rapid increase, surge |
| 激減 | げきげん | rapid decrease, sharp decline |
| 激論 | げきろん | heated discussion, fierce argument |
| 激戦 | げきせん | fierce battle, intense competition |
| 激動 | げきどう | violent change, upheaval, severe agitation |
| 激辛 | げきから | very spicy, extremely hot (food) |
| 激務 | げきむ | arduous work, demanding job |
| 激写 | げきしゃ | dynamic photo (taken quickly, often action shots) |
| 急激 | きゅうげき | sudden, drastic, rapid |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 激しい | はげしい | intense, violent, fierce, severe |
| 激しく | はげしく | intensely, violently, fiercely (adverbial form) |
| 激しさ | はげしさ | intensity, violence, severity (noun form) |
| 激しい雨 | はげしいあめ | heavy rain |
| 激しい風 | はげしいかぜ | strong wind |
| 激しい運動 | はげしいうんどう | intense exercise |
| 激しい感情 | はげしいかんじょう | strong emotions |
| 激しい痛み | はげしいいたみ | severe pain |
| 激しい変化 | はげしいへんか | drastic change |
| 激しい争い | はげしいあらそい | fierce dispute |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 激しい雨が降っています。
Kana: はげしいあめがふっています。
Romaji: Hageshii ame ga futte imasu.
English: It’s raining heavily.
Japanese: 彼の言葉に深く感激しました。
Kana: かれのことばにふかくかんげきしました。
Romaji: Kare no kotoba ni fukaku kangeki shimashita.
English: I was deeply moved by his words.
Japanese: その会社は売上が激増している。
Kana: そのかいしゃはうりあげがげきぞうしている。
Romaji: Sono kaisha wa uriage ga gekizou shite iru.
English: That company’s sales are rapidly increasing.
Japanese: 激しい論争が夜遅くまで続いた。
Kana: はげしいろんそうがよるおそくまでつづいた。
Romaji: Hageshii ronsou ga yoru osoku made tsuzuita.
English: The heated debate continued late into the night.
Japanese: 彼は激しい運動で汗だくになった。
Kana: かれははげしいうんどうであせだくになった。
Romaji: Kare wa hageshii undou de asedaku ni natta.
English: He got drenched in sweat from intense exercise.
Japanese: 市場は激動の時代を迎えている。
Kana: しじょうはげきどうのじだいをむかえている。
Romaji: Shijou wa gekidou no jidai o mukaete iru.
English: The market is entering a period of drastic change.
Japanese: この料理は激辛だけど美味しい。
Kana: このりょうりはげきからだけどおいしい。
Romaji: Kono ryouri wa gekikara dakedo oishii.
English: This dish is extremely spicy, but delicious.
Japanese: 彼女は激しい感情を露わにした。
Kana: かのじょははげしいかんじょうをあらわにした。
Romaji: Kanojo wa hageshii kanjou o arawa ni shita.
English: She revealed her strong emotions.
Japanese: 今回の試験は激戦だった。
Kana: こんかいのしけんはげきせんだった。
Romaji: Konkai no shiken wa gekisen datta.
English: This exam was a fierce competition.
Japanese: その事故で激しい痛みに襲われた。
Kana: そのじこではげしいいたみにおそわれた。
Romaji: Sono jiko de hageshii itami ni osowareta.
English: I was struck by severe pain due to that accident.
Related Grammar & kanji list
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