Readings: ショウ (Onyomi), つ.く (Kunyomi)
Meaning: impact, collide, thrust, clash
The kanji 衝 (shō) is a phono-semantic compound (形声文字 – keisei moji). It combines the radical 彳 (chì/gyō, meaning ‘walk’ or ‘go’, representing movement) on the left, and 𢦒 (chōng), which serves as the phonetic component and also suggests “force” or “thrust” (originally depicting a heavy pestle pounding or a person dashing forward). Together, these elements convey the idea of “going with force,” leading to meanings related to impact, collision, or thrust.
View JLPT N1 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 衝 has 15 strokes. It begins with the three strokes of the 彳 (gyō-ninben) radical on the left, followed by the right-hand component. Pay attention to the order and direction of each stroke to ensure proper formation.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 行 |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 15 |
| JLPT Level | N1 |
| Grade | S |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ショウ (shō)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- つ.く (tsu.ku)
Common Words Using 衝
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 衝突 | しょうとつ | collision; crash; conflict |
| 衝撃 | しょうげき | impact; shock; strong impression |
| 衝動 | しょうどう | impulse; urge |
| 緩衝 | かんしょう | buffering; mitigation; cushion |
| 要衝 | ようしょう | strategic point; important post |
| 衝角 | しょうかく | ram (of a ship) |
| 衝天 | しょうてん | piercing the sky; soaring |
| 交衝 | こうしょう | intersection (e.g., of orbits, astronomical) |
| 衝上 | しょうじょう | thrust (geology) |
| 衝心 | しょうしん | striking the heart (literary) |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 衝く | つく | to thrust; to pierce; to prick; to sting |
| 胸を衝く | むねをつく | to strike one’s chest (with emotion); to deeply move |
| 急所を衝く | きゅうしょをつく | to strike a vital point |
| 心を衝く | こころをつく | to pierce one’s heart; to touch one’s heart deeply |
| 耳を衝く | みみをつく | to pierce one’s ears; to be deafening |
| 目を衝く | めをつく | to strike one’s eye; to be glaring (e.g., of light) |
| 鼻を衝く | はなをつく | to sting one’s nose (e.g., a strong smell) |
| 頭を衝く | あたまをつく | to hit one’s head (e.g., against ceiling); to reach the ceiling |
| 床を衝く | ゆかをつく | to hit the floor (e.g., with a stick); to fall to the floor |
| 膝を衝く | ひざをつく | to kneel; to hit one’s knees (on the ground) |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 車が電柱に衝突した。
Kana: くるまがでんちゅうにしょうとつした。
Romaji: Kuruma ga denchū ni shōtotsu shita.
English: The car collided with a utility pole.
Japanese: そのニュースは彼に大きな衝撃を与えた。
Kana: そのニュースはかれにおおきなしょうげきをあたえた。
Romaji: Sono nyūsu wa kare ni ōkina shōgeki o ataeta.
English: That news gave him a big shock.
Japanese: 衝動買いをしてしまった。
Kana: しょうどうがいをしてしまった。
Romaji: Shōdōgai o shite shimatta.
English: I ended up making an impulse purchase.
Japanese: 彼は私の胸を衝く言葉を言った。
Kana: かれはわたしのむねをつくことばをいった。
Romaji: Kare wa watashi no mune o tsuku kotoba o itta.
English: He said words that struck my heart.
Japanese: 交渉は難航し、両者の意見が激しく衝突した。
Kana: こうしょうはなんこうし、りょうしゃのいけんがはげしくしょうとつした。
Romaji: Kōshō wa nankō shi, ryōsha no iken ga hageshiku shōtotsu shita.
English: Negotiations were difficult, and the opinions of both sides clashed fiercely.
Japanese: これは経済への大きな衝撃となるだろう。
Kana: これはけいざいへのおおきなしょうげきとなるだろう。
Romaji: Kore wa keizai e no ōkina shōgeki to naru darō.
English: This will be a major blow to the economy.
Japanese: 事故の衝撃で、彼は記憶を失った。
Kana: じこのしょうげきで、かれはきおくをうしなった。
Romaji: Jiko no shōgeki de, kare wa kioku o ushinatta.
English: He lost his memory due to the impact of the accident.
Japanese: 彼の言動は私の感情を衝いた。
Kana: かれのげんどうはわたしのかんじょうをついた。
Romaji: Kare no gendō wa watashi no kanjō o tsuita.
English: His words and actions struck my emotions.
Japanese: この戦略は敵の要衝を衝くものだ。
Kana: このせんりゃくはてきのようしょうをつくものだ。
Romaji: Kono senryaku wa teki no yōshō o tsuku mono da.
English: This strategy aims to strike at the enemy’s vital point.
Japanese: 緩衝材を使って、商品を保護した。
Kana: かんしょうざいをつかって、しょうひんをほごした。
Romaji: Kanshōzai o tsukatte, shōhin o hogoshita.
English: I used cushioning material to protect the product.
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