Meaning
劾 means impeachment, formal accusation, and investigation of crimes. An N1 character, it appears almost exclusively in legal, political, and historical writing — above all in the compound 弾劾, the constitutional process of formally charging a public official with misconduct or abuse of power.
The character combines two elements: 亥 (the boar, twelfth of the Earthly Branches) with 力 (ちから, force or power). Together they suggest an institution bearing down with full authority to pursue wrongdoers. 劾 originated in classical Chinese legal proceedings, where court officials were formally denounced before the emperor. That tradition carried directly into Japanese governance.
Classical texts used 劾 in the phrase 劾奏 — a formal memorial submitted to the imperial throne accusing a court official of crimes or dereliction of duty. 劾 always meant institutionalized accusation at the highest level: not a casual complaint, but the solemn act of holding the powerful to account.
At 8 strokes, 劾 is compact for what it carries. It belongs to the Joyo kanji (常用漢字) list at grade 8 — outside the elementary school curriculum, studied at the secondary level or beyond. The radical is 力 (power, force), fitting for a character whose core purpose is wielding institutional authority to expose wrongdoing.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
劾 has one primary on'yomi reading used in modern Japanese:
ガイ (gai) — From the classical Chinese pronunciation. This reading appears almost exclusively in formal legal compounds; 劾 rarely stands alone. Learn ガイ through the key compounds below rather than in isolation.
- 弾劾 (dangai) — impeachment; the formal constitutional process of charging a public official with serious misconduct or violation of duty
- 劾奏 (gaisō) — a historical term for an accusatory memorial submitted to the emperor in classical court proceedings
- 糾劾 (kyūgai) — investigation and formal accusation; probing and indicting someone for crimes or misconduct
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
劾 has no established kun'yomi in modern Japanese. It entered the language through classical Chinese legal tradition and never acquired a corresponding native reading — a pattern shared by many kanji from this background.
Focus your study on the on'yomi ガイ and its compounds. In contemporary usage, 弾劾 is the form you'll encounter most — in political journalism, constitutional law texts, and academic writing.
Common Words & Compounds
劾 appears in a limited but important range of legal, political, and historical vocabulary.
Legal and Constitutional Terms:
- 弾劾 (dangai) — impeachment; the formal constitutional mechanism for charging a public official, especially a judge, with misconduct or abuse of power
- 弾劾裁判 (dangai saiban) — impeachment trial; the judicial proceeding conducted against an impeached official
- 弾劾裁判所 (dangai saibansho) — Court of Impeachment; the special court within Japan's National Diet that tries impeached judges
- 弾劾訴追 (dangai sōtsui) — impeachment prosecution; initiating formal proceedings against a public official
- 劾状 (gaijō) — article of impeachment; the written document formally setting out the accusations
Historical and Classical Terms:
- 劾奏 (gaisō) — an accusatory memorial to the emperor; used in classical court proceedings to formally denounce an official
- 糾劾 (kyūgai) — investigation and prosecution of wrongdoing; holding someone formally accountable through official inquiry
Usage Note:
弾劾 dominates modern usage. Japan's Constitution establishes a dedicated impeachment court (弾劾裁判所) within the National Diet, which tries and can remove judges found guilty of serious misconduct. Because of this institution, 劾 appears regularly in news coverage of judicial accountability. It's essential vocabulary for anyone studying Japanese constitutional law, political science, or journalism.
Example Sentences
大統領は弾劾された。
Daitōryō wa dangai sareta.
The president was impeached.
国会は裁判官の弾劾を決議した。
Kokkai wa saibankan no dangai wo ketsugi shita.
The National Diet passed a resolution to impeach the judge.
弾劾裁判は憲法に基づいて行われる。
Dangai saiban wa kenpō ni motozuite okonawareru.
Impeachment trials are conducted in accordance with the Constitution.
その大臣は汚職を理由に弾劾の危機に立たされた。
Sono daijin wa oshoku wo riyū ni dangai no kiki ni tatasareta.
The minister faced the threat of impeachment on corruption charges.
弾劾の手続きは非常に複雑だ。
Dangai no tetsuzuki wa hijō ni fukuzatsu da.
The impeachment procedure is extremely complex.
歴史的に、劾奏は朝廷における重要な制度だった。
Rekishiteki ni, gaisō wa chōtei ni okeru jūyō na seido datta.
Historically, the impeachment memorial was an important institution at the imperial court.
弾劾裁判所は日本の国会に設置されている。
Dangai saibansho wa Nihon no kokkai ni secchi sarete iru.
The Court of Impeachment is established within Japan's National Diet.
その判事は職権乱用で弾劾訴追された。
Sono hanji wa shokken ran'yō de dangai sōtsui sareta.
The judge faced impeachment proceedings for abuse of authority.
糾劾の声が国民の間で高まった。
Kyūgai no koe ga kokumin no aida de takamatta.
Calls for formal prosecution grew louder among the public.
Memory Tip
Break 劾 into its two parts: 亥 (the boar) and 力 (force). A boar charges head-down, full weight, no turning back. That image captures 弾劾 in practice: an institution driving forward with the full authority of law to hold a powerful official to account. No negotiation. No subtlety. Boar (亥) plus force (力) equals impeachment.