JLPT N1 Kanji: 執 (shitsu, shū) – Grasping the Meaning of “執”

JLPT N1 Kanji: 執 (shitsu, shū) – Grasping the Meaning of “執”

Readings: シツ, シュウ (Onyomi), とる, とらえる, とらわれる (Kunyomi)

Meaning: take, grasp, hold, carry out, conduct, manage, direct, cling to

The kanji 執 is composed of 幸 (kō/shiawase, meaning “luck, happiness”) and a component that suggests holding or grasping. Its original form depicts a hand firmly grasping an object, conveying the core idea of seizing, holding onto, or taking charge of something.

View JLPT N1 Kanji List

How to Write – Stroke Order

The stroke order for 執 starts with the top components, followed by the left side, then the right, and finally the bottom. Remember to follow the standard top-to-bottom, left-to-right convention for each part of the kanji.

Kanji Details

Radical
Strokes11
JLPT LevelN1
GradeN/A (Beyond Grade School)

Readings with English Transcription

Onyomi (Chinese readings)

  • シツ (SHITSU)
  • シュウ (SHŪ)

Kunyomi (Japanese readings)

  • とる (toru)
  • とらえる (toraeru)
  • とらわれる (torawareru)

Common Words Using 執

Onyomi Readings

WordReadingMeaning
執筆しっぴつwriting (an article, a book), authorship
執着しゅうちゃくattachment, adherence, persistence, obsession
執行しっこうexecution (of a task), enforcement (of a law)
執刀しっとうperforming an operation (surgery)
執念しゅうねんtenacity, persistence, obsession, grudge
執務しつむperforming one’s duties, attendance (at one’s office)
執拗しつようpersistent, obstinate, tenacious, stubborn
執権しっけんregent, shogunate regent
執事しつじbutler, steward
執心しゅうしんdevotion, attachment, obsession

Kunyomi Readings

WordReadingMeaning
執るとるto take charge of, to handle (affairs)
執り行うとりおこなうto carry out, to perform (a ceremony)
執り成すとりなすto mediate, to intercede
執り持つとりもつto manage, to mediate (e.g., a business deal)
執りまとめるとりまとめるto compile, to put in order (e.g., documents)
執り付けるとりつけるto install, to attach (e.g., fixtures)
執り掛かるとりかかるto set about, to start (on a task)
執り締めるとりしめるto crack down on, to control (e.g., finances)
執り計らうとりはからうto manage, to arrange (e.g., preparations)
執り調べるとりしらべるto investigate, to examine

Example Sentences

Japanese: 彼は新しい小説の執筆に集中している。

Kana: かれはあたらしいしょうせつのしっぴつにちゅうしんしている。

Romaji: Kare wa atarashii shōsetsu no shippitsu ni chūshin shiteiru.

English: He is concentrating on writing a new novel.

Japanese: 過去への執着は未来への扉を閉ざす。

Kana: かこへのしゅうちゃくはみらいへのとびらを閉ざす。

Romaji: Kako e no shūchaku wa mirai e no tobira o tozasu.

English: Attachment to the past closes the door to the future.

Japanese: 裁判所の命令が執行された。

Kana: さいばんしょのめいれいがしっこうされた。

Romaji: Saibansho no meirei ga shikkō sareta.

English: The court order was executed.

Japanese: 彼は重要な会議の議事進行を執った。

Kana: かれはじゅうようなかいぎのぎじしんこうをとった。

Romaji: Kare wa jūyō na kaigi no gijishinkō o totta.

English: He took charge of the proceedings of the important meeting.

Japanese: その外科医は緊急手術を執刀した。

Kana: そのげかいはきんきゅうしゅじゅつをしっとうした。

Romaji: Sono gekai wa kinkyū shujutsu o shittō shita.

English: That surgeon performed an emergency operation.

Japanese: どんな困難にも執念を持って立ち向かうべきだ。

Kana: どんなこんなんにもしゅうねんをもってたかむかうべきだ。

Romaji: Donna konnan ni mo shūnen o motte tachimukau beki da.

English: One should face any difficulty with tenacity.

Japanese: 会長は毎日、定時に執務を行っている。

Kana: かいちょうはまいにち、ていじにしつむをおこなっている。

Romaji: Kaichō wa mainichi, teiji ni shitsumu o okonatteiru.

English: The chairman performs his duties at a fixed time every day.

Japanese: 彼は執拗に質問を繰り返した。

Kana: かれはしつようにしつもんをくりかえした。

Romaji: Kare wa shitsuyō ni shitsumon o kurikaeshita.

English: He persistently repeated the questions.

Japanese: 結婚式は滞りなく執り行われた。

Kana: けっこんしきはとどこおりなくとりおこなわれた。

Romaji: Kekkonshiki wa todokōri naku toriokonawareta.

English: The wedding ceremony was carried out smoothly.

Japanese: その家には長年仕えている執事がいた。

Kana: そのいえにはながねんつかえているしつじがいた。

Romaji: Sono ie ni wa naganen tsukaeteiru shitsuji ga ita.

English: There was a butler who had served that family for many years.

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