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道Nihongo Path
逝

逝·pass away, depart (this life)

On-yomi
セイ
Kun-yomi
ゆ(く)い(く)

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

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

10 strokes, numbered in writing order. Data: KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
逝去せいきょpassing away (respectful)
急逝きゅうせいsudden death
長逝ちょうせいdeath, passing away (literary)
逝くゆくto pass away

Example sentences

  1. 先生の逝去を悼みます。

    せんせいのせいきょをいたみます。

    We mourn the passing of our teacher.

  2. 恩師が急逝されたと聞いて驚いた。

    おんしがきゅうせいされたとききておどろいた。

    I was shocked to hear that my old teacher had died suddenly.

  3. 祖母は静かに逝った。

    そぼはしずかにいった。

    My grandmother passed away peacefully.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • 逝去 is used respectfully of other people; never of yourself or your own family to outsiders — use 死去 or 亡くなる instead
  • Reading 逝去 as せいきょう — it is せいきょ

Memory aid

Picture it

The road radical 辶 with 折 (to break off): setting off down the road and breaking away for good — departing this life.

Quick check

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What does the kanji 逝 mean?