Readings: トウ (Onyomi), う.つ (Kunyomi)
Meaning: chastise, attack, subjugate, avenge, discuss, investigate
The kanji 討 combines 言 (word, speech) and 寸 (a hand/thumb, often indicating a small amount or action, but here possibly related to “to strike” or “to act upon”). It suggests the idea of “to speak forcefully,” “to discuss thoroughly leading to action,” or “to strike by means of words or in response to words (e.g., injustice). Historically, it’s linked to speaking about punishment or enacting punishment.
View JLPT N1 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The stroke order for 討 begins with the 言 (gonben) radical on the left side, followed by the right component (寸). There are a total of 10 strokes. Ensure correct stroke order for each part.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 言 |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 10 |
| JLPT Level | N1 |
| Grade | S |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- トウ (TŌ)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- う.つ (u.tsu)
Common Words Using 討
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 討論 | とうろん | discussion, debate |
| 検討 | けんとう | examination, investigation, study |
| 討伐 | とうばつ | subjugation, punitive expedition |
| 討議 | とうぎ | deliberation, discussion |
| 討究 | とうきゅう | investigation, research |
| 追討 | ついとう | pursuit and subjugation |
| 検討中 | けんとうちゅう | under consideration/review |
| 討議する | とうぎする | to discuss, to deliberate |
| 討ち入り | うちいり | raid (e.g., 忠臣蔵の討ち入り) |
| 論討 | ろんとう | debate, discussion (less common) |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 討つ | うつ | to attack, to strike, to defeat, to avenge |
| 討ち入る | うちいる | to raid, to break into |
| 討ち取る | うちとる | to capture, to kill (an enemy) |
| 討ち死に | うちじに | death in battle |
| 討ち果たす | うちはたす | to achieve vengeance, to accomplish (a defeat) |
| 討ち滅ぼす | うちほろぼす | to destroy, to exterminate (by attack) |
| 討ち払う | うちはらう | to drive out, to clear away (by attack) |
| 討ち果てる | うちはてる | to die in battle, to be killed (in a fight) |
| 討たれる | うたれる | to be attacked, to be defeated (passive of 討つ) |
| 討ち合う | うちあう | to exchange blows, to fight each other |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 彼らはその問題について真剣に討論した。
Kana: かれらはそのもんだいについてしんけんにとうろんした。
Romaji: Karera wa sono mondai ni tsuite shinken ni tōron shita.
English: They seriously discussed that problem.
Japanese: 新しい企画を検討中です。
Kana: あたらしいきかくをけんとうちゅうです。
Romaji: Atarashii kikaku o kentōchū desu.
English: We are currently considering a new project.
Japanese: 敵軍を討伐するため、兵士たちが出発した。
Kana: てきぐんをとうばつするため、へいしたちがしゅっぱつした。
Romaji: Tekigun o tōbatsu suru tame, heishi-tachi ga shuppatsu shita.
English: The soldiers set out to subjugate the enemy army.
Japanese: 会議で重要な議題が討議された。
Kana: かいぎでじゅうようなぎだいがとうぎされた。
Romaji: Kaigi de jūyō na gidai ga tōgi sareta.
English: Important issues were deliberated in the meeting.
Japanese: その謎を討究するために、彼は図書館で何時間も過ごした。
Kana: そのなぞをとうきゅうするために、かれはとしょかんでなんじかんもすごした。
Romaji: Sono nazo o tōkyū suru tame, kare wa toshokan de nanjikan mo sugoshita.
English: He spent hours in the library to research that mystery.
Japanese: 忠臣蔵の四十七士は、主君の仇を討つために吉良邸に討ち入りした。
Kana: ちゅうしんぐらのしじゅうしちしは、しゅくんのかたきをうつためにきらていにうちいりした。
Romaji: Chūshingura no shijūshichishi wa, shukun no kataki o utsu tame ni Kira-tei ni uchiiri shita.
English: The forty-seven rōnin of Chūshingura raided Kira’s mansion to avenge their lord.
Japanese: 彼は勇敢に戦い、戦場で討ち死にした。
Kana: かれはゆうかんにたたかい、せんじょうでうちじにした。
Romaji: Kare wa yūkan ni tatakai, senjō de uchijini shita.
English: He fought bravely and died in battle on the battlefield.
Japanese: 宿敵を討ち取ることが彼の人生の目的だった。
Kana: しゅくてきをうちとることがかれのじんせいのもくひょうだった。
Romaji: Shukuteki o uchitoru koto ga kare no jinsei no mokuhyō datta.
English: Defeating his sworn enemy was the goal of his life.
Japanese: 彼らの議論は徹夜にまで及ぶ討論になった。
Kana: かれらのぎろんはてつやにまでおよぶとうろんになった。
Romaji: Karera no giron wa tetsuya ni made oyobu tōron ni natta.
English: Their argument turned into an all-night discussion.
Japanese: 犯人を追討するため、警察は総力を挙げた。
Kana: はんにんをついとうするため、けいさつはそうりょくをあげた。
Romaji: Hannin o tsuitō suru tame, keisatsu wa sōryoku o ageta.
English: The police exerted all their efforts to pursue and subjugate the culprit.
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