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道Nihongo Path
虐

虐·tyrannize, oppress

On-yomi
ぎゃく
Kun-yomi
しいた.げる

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
虐待ぎゃくたいabuse, mistreatment
虐殺ぎゃくさつmassacre
虐げるしいたげるto oppress, to tyrannize
残虐ざんぎゃくbrutal, atrocious
自虐じぎゃくself-torment, self-deprecation

Example sentences

  1. 動物の虐待は許されない。

    どうぶつのぎゃくたいはゆるされない。

    Cruelty to animals is not acceptable.

  2. その民族は長い間虐げられてきた。

    そのみんぞくはながいあいだしいたげられてきた。

    That people was oppressed for a long time.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • 虐待 is ぎゃくたい, not ぎゃくだい.
  • 虐げる is しいたげる — an unexpectedly long kun reading.

Memory aid

Picture it

The tiger top 虍 over a clawed-down shape: a tiger mauling what is under it — cruelty.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 虐 mean?