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道Nihongo Path
酌

酌·pour (sake), serve a drink, take into account

On-yomi
シャク
Kun-yomi
く(む)

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

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

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
晩酌ばんしゃくan evening drink at home with dinner
お酌おしゃくpouring a drink for someone
酌量しゃくりょうtaking circumstances into consideration
情状酌量じょうじょうしゃくりょうallowance for extenuating circumstances

Example sentences

  1. 父は毎晩晩酌を欠かさない。

    ちちはまいばんばんしゃくをかかさない。

    My father never misses his evening drink.

  2. 宴会で上司にお酌をした。

    えんかいでじょうしにおしゃくをした。

    At the party I poured a drink for my boss.

  3. 裁判所は情状酌量の余地があると判断した。

    さいばんしょはじょうじょうしゃくりょうのよちがあるとはんだんした。

    The court found room for mitigating circumstances.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 晩酌 as ばんしゅく — it is ばんしゃく
  • Forgetting the figurative sense: 酌量 is about weighing circumstances, not pouring anything

Memory aid

Picture it

The sake jar 酉 beside a ladle 勺: dipping the ladle into the jar — pouring someone a drink, and by extension ladling out fair consideration.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 酌 mean?