Meaning
The kanji 攻 (こう / せ・める) primarily means "attack," "assault," or "offense." It signifies proactive engagement, encompassing everything from a military offensive to an aggressive move in a competitive game. This dynamic character implies initiating action with force, intent, or focused effort to gain an advantage over an opponent or overcome an obstacle.
Beyond physical actions, 攻 can also metaphorically mean to criticize or blame someone, similar to a verbal assault. For example, if someone points out another's shortcomings forcefully, they are said to be 攻める.
To understand its origins, let's look at its etymology. 攻 is a phono-semantic compound. The left component, 工 (こう), broadly signifies "craft," "work," or "tool." In this context, it contributes to the sound and subtly suggests the application of skilled effort or a structured approach.
The right component, ⺙ (a variant of 攴, known as ぼくづくり or ぼくのぶん radical), is frequently associated with actions involving "striking," "rapping," or "acting with force." This component is often visually depicted as a hand holding a stick or whip. When these two elements combine, the kanji visually represents the act of "applying a tool or skilled effort with force." This naturally evolved into the concept of "attacking" or "assaulting." It emphasizes taking forceful, intentional action—whether with a physical weapon, strategic planning, or critical words—to achieve an objective.
This kanji has 7 strokes and is an N1 level kanji in the Japanese Language Proficiency Test. This means it appears frequently in advanced vocabulary and complex texts. As a Joyo Kanji, it is also considered essential for everyday Japanese communication.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
On'yomi are readings that originated from Chinese pronunciations. They are typically used when the kanji forms part of a compound word, especially with other kanji. For 攻, the primary on'yomi is コウ (KŌ).
コウ (KŌ)
This is the most common on'yomi for 攻. You'll frequently encounter it in words related to military actions, strategic maneuvers, sports, and the general idea of "offense." It signifies a direct, intentional, or concentrated application of force or effort.
攻撃 (kōgeki) — attack, assault, strike. This is arguably the most fundamental and widely used compound incorporating 攻, referring to a direct act of aggression, a physical strike, or an offensive move (e.g., サイバー攻撃 'cyber attack').
攻勢 (kōsei) — offensive, offensive posture. Often used in military, political, or business contexts to describe an aggressive stance, a period of active advancement, or taking the initiative (e.g., 攻勢に出る 'to go on the offensive').
専攻 (senkō) — major (field of study). While seemingly unrelated to "attack," this word literally translates to "specialized attack" or "focused effort" directed toward a particular academic discipline. It implies a deep, concentrated dive and commitment to mastering one area (e.g., 経済学を専攻する 'to major in economics').
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
Kun'yomi are native Japanese readings. They are typically used when the kanji stands alone as a verb stem, an adjective, or a noun, often accompanied by okurigana (trailing hiragana). For 攻, the primary kun'yomi is せ.める (se.meru).
せ.める (se.meru)
This is the core verbal form for 攻, meaning "to attack," "to assault," or "to besiege." Interestingly, it can also carry the nuance of "to criticize," "to blame," or "to persecute" in certain social or interpersonal contexts, implying a verbal assault or targeting someone's flaws or mistakes.
攻める (semeru) — to attack, to assault, to besiege, to blame, to criticize. This is the direct verbal form, frequently found in narratives, sports commentaries, strategic discussions, or when describing a critical verbal confrontation (e.g., 相手の弱点を攻める 'to attack the opponent's weak point').
攻め手 (semete) — an attacker, an offensive player (especially in strategy games like Shogi or Go). This noun identifies the person or side initiating the offensive action (e.g., 攻め手が有利だ 'the attacking side has the advantage').
攻め込む (semekomu) — to invade, to attack and occupy. This compound verb emphasizes penetrating into an enemy's territory or position, often with a sense of taking control (e.g., 敵地に攻め込む 'to invade enemy territory').
Common Words & Compounds
The kanji 攻 is highly versatile, forming a wide range of compound words. These terms reflect its core meaning across various contexts, from intense military engagements to focused academic pursuits and competitive sports strategies.
Military and Conflict-Related Terms
攻撃 (kōgeki) — attack, assault, strike. A very common and versatile term used for any act of aggression or offensive action, whether by military forces, individuals, or even in cyber warfare (e.g., テロ攻撃 'terrorist attack').
侵攻 (shinkō) — invasion, encroachment. This specifically refers to attacking and entering another territory or domain, most often with military force (e.g., 領土侵攻 'territorial invasion').
猛攻 (mōkō) — fierce attack, furious assault. The addition of 猛 (mō, fierce/brave) intensifies the meaning, denoting a particularly strong, relentless, and often overwhelming attack (e.g., 敵の猛攻をしのぐ 'to withstand a fierce enemy attack').
急攻 (kyūkō) — sudden attack. 急 (kyū, sudden/urgent) implies an unexpected and swift assault, often designed to catch the opponent off guard (e.g., 敵への急攻 'a sudden attack on the enemy').
総攻撃 (sōkōgeki) — general attack, all-out offensive. This signifies a comprehensive attack involving all available forces (e.g., 敵陣に総攻撃をかける 'to launch an all-out offensive on the enemy camp').
Sports and Game Strategy
攻防 (kōbō) — offense and defense, struggle. This fundamental term describes the dynamic interplay between attacking and defending, a core aspect of most sports and competitive situations (e.g., 激しい攻防 'intense offense and defense').
攻め方 (semekata) — method of attack, strategy. Especially used in strategy games like Shogi or Go to describe how one approaches an offensive play or tactical maneuver (e.g., 新しい攻め方を試す 'to try a new attack strategy').
先攻 (senkō) — batting first, first attack (in games). The act of making the first move or initiating the attack in a competitive setting, such as baseball or board games (e.g., 試合は先攻で始まる 'the game starts with the first attack').
攻め時 (semedoki) — time to attack, opportune moment for attack. This refers to the critical moment when an offensive action should be launched for maximum effect (e.g., 今が攻め時だ 'now is the time to attack').
Strategic and Abstract Approaches
攻略 (kōryaku) — capture, strategy guide, walkthrough (for games). This implies devising a comprehensive plan or strategy to successfully overcome a challenge, defeat an enemy, or "capture" a goal. It's commonly seen in video game guides (e.g., ゲーム攻略サイト 'game strategy guide website').
攻勢 (kōsei) — offensive, offensive posture. Describes a state or period of actively attacking, advancing, or taking initiative in a broader strategic sense (e.g., 経済的な攻勢 'economic offensive').
攻め口 (semeguchi) — an opening for attack, a weak point. This identifies a specific vulnerability or entry point that can be exploited for an effective attack (e.g., 敵の攻め口を見つける 'to find an opening in the enemy's defense').
Academic and Personal Contexts
専攻 (senkō) — major (field of study). As previously mentioned, this word signifies dedicating one's primary academic effort to a specific field, metaphorically "attacking" it with focused and deep study (e.g., 歴史学を専攻する 'to major in history').
攻撃的 (kōgekiteki) — aggressive, offensive (adjective). Describes someone or something that tends to attack, is prone to aggression, or takes an offensive stance in personality or behavior (e.g., 攻撃的な性格 'an aggressive personality').
These diverse examples demonstrate the broad application and rich semantic range of 攻. Its meaning extends from literal physical attacks to metaphorical approaches in various aspects of life.
Example Sentences
相手チームを攻めるのは簡単ではないが、諦めない。
Aite chīmu o semeru no wa kantan de wa nai ga, akiramenai.
Attacking the opposing team isn't easy, but we won't give up.
敵に突然攻撃されたため、我々は戦術の変更を余儀なくされた。
Teki ni totsuzen kōgeki sareta tame, wareware wa senjutsu no henkō o yoginaku sareta.
We were forced to change tactics because we were suddenly attacked by the enemy.
この複雑な問題の攻略法を見つけるには、新しい視点が必要だ。
Kono fukuzatsu na mondai no kōryakuhō o mitsukeru ni wa, atarashii shiten ga hitsuyō da.
Finding a strategy to tackle this complex problem requires a new perspective.
彼は果敢に敵陣を攻めて、試合の流れを変えた。
Kare wa kakan ni tekijin o semete, shiai no nagare o kaeta.
He bravely attacked the enemy camp and changed the flow of the game.
守備だけでなく、攻めも同じくらい重要であり、両方のバランスが鍵となる。
Shubi dake de naku, seme mo onaji kurai jūyō de ari, ryōhō no baransu ga kagi to naru.
Not just defense, but offense is equally important; the balance between both is key.
私の大学での専攻は国際関係学で、様々な研究に取り組みました。
Watashi no daigaku de no senkō wa kokusai kankeigaku de, samazama na kenkyū ni torikumimashita.
My major at university was international relations, and I engaged in various research projects.
相手の弱点を集中的に攻めるのが、このゲームで勝利する唯一の方法だ。
Aite no jakuten o shūchūteki ni semeru no ga, kono gēmu de shōri suru yuiitsu no hōhō da.
Concentrating the attack on the opponent's weak point is the only way to win this game.
新しいRPGゲームの隠れた要素を見つけるため攻略サイトを探しているところです。
Atarashii RPG gēmu no kakureta yōso o mitsukeru tame kōryaku saito o sagashite iru tokoro desu.
I'm currently looking for a strategy guide website to find hidden elements in a new RPG game.
彼らのチームは逆転勝利を目指して最後まで果敢に攻め続けた。
Karera no chīmu wa gyakuten shōri o mezashite saigo made kakan ni semetsuzuketa.
Their team continued to attack bravely until the very end, aiming for a come-from-behind victory.
守るばかりではなく、時には攻めに出る勇気も必要だ。
Mamoru bakari de wa naku, toki ni wa seme ni deru yūki mo hitsuyō da.
Not just defending, sometimes it's also necessary to have the courage to go on the offensive.
Memory Tip
To remember 攻, which means "attack" or "assault," break down its visual components. Look at the left part, 工, representing "work," "craft," or a "tool." Now, observe the right part, ⺙ (boku, a variant of 攴), a radical signifying "striking" or "acting with force," often depicted as a hand holding a stick or whip.
Imagine a dedicated craftsman (工) using a tool—perhaps a hammer or a pickaxe, symbolized by ⺙—to forcefully "attack" and break down a stubborn block of wood or stone, shaping it to their will. Alternatively, you could visualize a meticulous military general "working" (工) diligently on a battle plan, carefully devising the perfect strategy to "strike" (⺙) the enemy lines. This combination of "work/tool" and "strike" powerfully conveys the idea of a deliberate, forceful, and intentional "attack" or "assault."