The kanji 嘱 (shoku) primarily means entrusting, commissioning, requesting, or instructing someone to do something. It often implies a formal or serious assignment of a task or responsibility. There's frequently a sense of expectation or hope attached to the outcome or the person receiving the entrustment.
This kanji originated as a phonetic-semantic compound. The left radical, 口 (kuchi), meaning 'mouth,' suggests communication or giving instructions. This element connects to the act of orally assigning a task or making a request.
The right component, 蜀 (shoku), mainly serves as a phonetic element, giving the 'shoku' reading. While largely phonetic, 蜀 also has ancient ties to the Shu kingdom and the image of a silkworm. These associations can subtly hint at connection, binding, or continuity, metaphorically linking to entrusting a legacy or an ongoing task.
Ultimately, the kanji's visual form brings together the 'mouth' (for articulating a request) with a phonetic component that provides its sound and a subtle sense of connection in the act of entrusting. 嘱 is an 11-stroke kanji. While it's a Jōyō Kanji (kanji for everyday use), it isn't assigned to a specific school grade; instead, it typically appears in advanced Japanese contexts, corresponding to the N1 JLPT level.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
On'yomi are readings adopted from Chinese pronunciation. For 嘱, the primary on'yomi is ショク.
ショク (SHOKU): This is the most common reading for 嘱, appearing in most compound words. It conveys meanings like entrusting, commissioning, or expressing hope and expectation.
嘱託 (shokutaku) — commission, entrustment; commissioned employee, part-time employee
嘱望 (shokubō) — hope, expectation (often for a person's future success)
嘱する (shokusuru) — to entrust, to commission (verb form)
The reading ゾク (ZOKU) is a much rarer and older on'yomi. You'll seldom encounter it in modern Japanese, outside of very specialized or historical contexts.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
Kun'yomi are native Japanese readings that correspond to the kanji's meaning. While 嘱 lacks a commonly used standalone kun'yomi in modern Japanese dictionaries, it does appear in the native verb form 嘱す (shokusu), which directly reflects its meaning.
嘱す (shokusu): This native Japanese verb means "to entrust" or "to commission." Though phonetically derived from its on'yomi, its conjugation as a native verb gives it a similar function to a kun'yomi in actual use. It generally carries a more formal or literary tone compared to common verbs like 頼む (tanomu) or 任せる (makaseru).
後事を嘱す (kōji o shokusu) — to entrust one's affairs to someone (especially for after one's death)
任務を嘱す (ninmu o shokusu) — to entrust a duty/task
The reading たのむ (tanomu), meaning "to ask" or "to request," is often conceptually linked to 嘱. However, it is primarily written with the kanji 頼む or 恃む. The writing 嘱む is highly archaic or literary and is not used in contemporary Japanese.
Common Words & Compounds
Below are common words and compounds using 嘱, grouped by their specific nuances:
- Entrustment & Commissioning:
- 嘱託 (shokutaku) — commission, entrustment; commissioned employee, part-time staff member
- 嘱する (shokusuru) — to entrust, to commission (a verb)
- 嘱任 (shokunin) — appointment by commission, commissioned post
- 嘱託員 (shokutakuin) — part-time employee, commissioned staff member
- Hope & Expectation:
- 嘱望 (shokubō) — hope, expectation (often about a person's future success or talent)
- 嘱目 (shokumoku) — attention, notice, observation (often with a sense of expectation or interest)
- Request & Instruction:
- 嘱願 (shokugan) — request, entreaty
- 嘱文 (shokubun) — requested writing, commissioned article
- 嘱筆 (shokuhitsu) — commissioned writing, ghostwriting
- Legal & Medical Contexts:
- 嘱託殺人 (shokutaku satsujin) — murder by request, euthanasia (legally specific term)
- 嘱医 (shokui) — commissioned doctor, doctor on retainer
- 嘱託医 (shokutakui) — same as 嘱医, specifically a doctor working on a commission basis for an organization
- 嘱託尋問 (shokutaku jinmon) — commissioned interrogation (legal term where a court requests another court to conduct an interrogation)
Example Sentences
彼は今、大学で嘱託講師として働いている。
Kare wa ima, daigaku de shokutaku kōshi to shite hataraite iru.
He is currently working as a part-time lecturer at the university.
先輩に重要な任務を嘱されたので、一生懸命取り組んだ。
Senpai ni jūyō na ninmu o shokusareta node, isshōkenmei torikunda.
Because my senior entrusted me with an important task, I worked on it diligently.
若手の社員に将来を嘱望する声が多い。
Wakate no shain ni shōrai o shokubō suru koe ga ōi.
There are many voices expressing hope for the future of the young employees.
彼は新しいプロジェクトの指導を嘱された時、喜んで引き受けた。
Kare wa atarashī purojekuto no shidō o shokusareta toki, yorokonde hikiuketa.
When he was entrusted with the guidance of the new project, he gladly accepted.
著名な作家が雑誌から長編小説の連載を嘱託された。
Chomei na sakka ga zasshi kara chōhen shōsetsu no rensai o shokutaku sareta.
A renowned author was commissioned by a magazine to serialize a novel.
政府は専門家グループに新しい政策の立案を嘱した。
Seifu wa senmonka gurūpu ni atarashī seisaku no ritsuan o shoku shita.
The government entrusted a group of experts with the drafting of a new policy.
彼の並外れた才能は、将来の成功を嘱望させるものだった。
Kare no namihazureta sainō wa, shōrai no seikō o shokubō saseru mono datta.
His extraordinary talent made people hopeful for his future success.
多忙な校医は、近隣の開業医に一部の業務を嘱託した。
Tabō na kōi wa, kinrin no kaigyōi ni ichibu no gyōmu o shokutaku shita.
The busy school doctor commissioned a local private practitioner for some of the duties.
恩師は教え子たちに、社会貢献の大切さを嘱して旅立った。
Onshi wa oshiego-tachi ni, shakai kōken no taisetsu-sa o shoku shite tabidatta.
The respected teacher departed, having instructed his students on the importance of contributing to society.
彼は後進の育成に力を入れ、多くの若者に期待を嘱望した。
Kare wa kōshin no ikusei ni chikara o ire, ōku no wakamo no ni kitai o shokubō shita.
He put effort into training the next generation, placing high hopes on many young people.
Memory Tip
To remember 嘱, consider its two main components. The left part is 口 (kuchi), meaning "mouth." This symbolizes speaking, asking, or instructing. The right part, 蜀 (shoku), primarily provides the phonetic reading "shoku."
You can imagine someone using their "mouth" (口) to give an important instruction or task, perhaps so weighty it "shocks" (a playful link to ショク) the recipient. Alternatively, picture a "mouth" (口) instructing a messenger from the ancient "Shu Kingdom" (蜀) to "entrust" a vital message. The central idea revolves around using one's mouth to formally assign or request something significant.