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道Nihongo Path
伐

伐·fell (trees), strike down, attack

On-yomi
バツ
Kun-yomi
none

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

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

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
伐採ばっさいlogging, felling
殺伐さつばつbleak, brutal (atmosphere)
間伐かんばつthinning of a forest
討伐とうばつsubjugation, punitive expedition

Example sentences

  1. 森林の伐採が問題になっている。

    しんりんのばっさいがもんだいになっている。

    Deforestation has become a problem.

  2. 会議は殺伐とした雰囲気だった。

    かいぎはさつばつとしたふんいきだった。

    The meeting had a grim, hostile atmosphere.

  3. 間伐した木を燃料に使う。

    かんばつしたきをねんりょうにつかう。

    The thinned timber is used as fuel.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • 伐採 is ばっさい with a small tsu.
  • 殺伐 describes a mood, not an actual killing.

Memory aid

Picture it

A person 亻 with a halberd 戈 raised against a trunk: the blade comes down and the tree falls.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 伐 mean?