Meaning
The N1 kanji 殴 (ō, nagu.ru) primarily means "to strike," "to hit," "to punch," or "to beat." It implies a forceful and often violent physical action, typically using one's fists or a similar blunt instrument. Unlike more general terms for hitting, such as 打つ (utsu), which can simply mean "to hit" or "to strike" in various contexts (e.g., hitting a ball, striking a clock), 殴 specifically carries a connotation of aggressive physical assault, usually directed at a living being. This distinction is crucial for understanding its nuanced usage in Japanese.
The kanji 殴 is a classic example of a
- The radical 殳 (ほこづくり,
hoko-zukuri orshu ) on the right, providing the semantic clue. This radical originally depicted a hand holding a weapon, such as a club or spear. Its presence strongly indicates actions like striking or attacking with a weapon, vividly representing forceful impact. - The component 區 (く,
ku ) on the left, which functions primarily as a phonetic component, hinting at its Chinese-derived reading. While 區 itself means "area" or "district," its role here is purely phonetic, suggesting the 'ō' sound. Interestingly, even though 殴 has an On'yomi, it's more commonly used with its Kun'yomi.
Together, these components visually reinforce the meaning. The strong, assertive strokes of 殳 on the right side almost depict the motion of a strike. When looking at 殴, one can almost see the "club" or "weapon" element in 殳 bringing down force. The overall shape suggests a focused, direct application of force.
The kanji 殴 has 11 strokes. It is classified as a Jōyō Kanji (常用漢字), meaning it is among the characters designated for general use. As an N1 level kanji, it is considered advanced, typically learned by those with a high proficiency in Japanese. It does not belong to the elementary school grades (Grade 1-6) but is part of the broader set of Jōyō Kanji expected for general adult literacy, typically encountered at the junior high or high school level.
Readings
The kanji 殴 has distinct On'yomi (Chinese-derived readings) and Kun'yomi (native Japanese readings), each used in specific contexts. Understanding these readings and how they are applied is crucial for mastering this character.
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The primary On'yomi for 殴 is オウ (Ō). This reading is less common when 殴 appears alone as a verb, but it becomes prominent in compound words, especially those with more formal or technical connotations. These often relate to criminal acts or reports of violence. When used with its On'yomi, 殴 often describes an act of striking more objectively, particularly in official or academic contexts.
殴打 (ōda) — This compound formally means "hitting and striking." It's a formal term for assault or battery, frequently used in legal or news contexts to describe a forceful physical attack.
彼は殴打により怪我を負った。
kare wa ōda ni yori kega o otta.
— He sustained injuries due to the assault.
殴殺 (ōsatsu) — Meaning "beating to death." This severe term indicates homicide committed by physical beating. It is typically used in crime reports or forensic contexts.
被害者は殴殺されたと報道された。
higaisha wa ōsatsu sareta to hōdō sareta.
— It was reported that the victim was beaten to death.
殴闘 (ōtō) — This term refers to "a brawl" or "a fight involving hitting." It's a more formal or literary way to describe a physical altercation.
警察が集団殴闘を鎮圧した。
keisatsu ga shūdan ōtō o chin'atsu shita.
The police quelled the group brawl.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The primary and most frequently used Kun'yomi for 殴 is なぐ.る (nagu.ru), forming the transitive verb 殴る. This reading is central to expressing the direct action of "to hit," "to punch," or "to strike" in everyday Japanese. It conveys a more direct and active sense of the action compared to its On'yomi counterparts.
殴る (naguru) — The base verb form, meaning "to hit, to punch, to strike." This is the most common usage of the kanji in spoken and written Japanese.
彼は壁を殴った。
kare wa kabe o nagutta.
— He punched the wall.
殴りかかる (nagurikakaru) — This compound verb means "to lunge at and hit" or "to attack (by hitting)." It describes the aggressive act of lunging at someone with the intent to strike.
怒った男が彼に殴りかかった。
okotta otoko ga kare ni nagurikakatta.
— The angry man lunged at him to hit him.
殴りつける (naguritsukeru) — Meaning "to strike hard," "to punch hard," or "to hit repeatedly/violently." This verb emphasizes the force or persistence of the action.
彼は憎しみを込めて相手を殴りつけた。
kare wa nikushimi o komete aite o naguritsuketa.
— He punched his opponent hard with hatred.
Common Words & Compounds
The kanji 殴 forms numerous words and compounds, mostly related to physical force, striking, and violence. These terms frequently appear in contexts describing conflict, aggression, or even metaphorical "striking" actions.
General Acts of Striking
殴打 (ōda) — Hitting, striking, assault. A formal term for a physical attack.
殴る (naguru) — To hit, to punch, to strike. The most common verb form.
一殴り (hitonaguri) — A single blow or punch, emphasizing one instance of hitting.
殴り付け (naguritsuke) — A blow, a punch. This is the noun form derived from 殴りつける.
Intensified or Specific Striking Actions
殴殺 (ōsatsu) — Beating to death. A grave term used for a fatal beating.
殴りかかる (nagurikakaru) — To lunge at and hit, to attack someone by striking.
殴りつける (naguritsukeru) — To strike hard, to punch with force, or to hit repeatedly.
殴り倒す (naguritaosu) — To knock down, to punch someone to the ground.
殴り飛ばす (naguritobasu) — To knock out, to send someone flying with a punch.
Reciprocal or Group Actions
殴り合う (naguriau) — To punch each other, to exchange blows, to fight with fists.
殴闘 (ōtō) — A brawl, a fight involving hitting. More formal than 殴り合い.
Figurative or Metaphorical Usage
殴り書き (nagurigaki) — Hasty writing, a scrawl, scribble. This is a metaphorical use, implying "hitting" the paper quickly and messily.
殴り込み (nagurikomi) — A raid, a storming in. This term often implies an aggressive entry with hostile intent, though it doesn't necessarily involve literal hitting.
Example Sentences
These example sentences demonstrate the natural use of 殴 in various contexts, from direct actions to more nuanced expressions.
彼は怒って机を殴った。
Kare wa ikatte tsukue o nagutta.
He angrily punched the desk.
口論がエスカレートし、最終的には彼らが互いに殴り合った。
Kōron ga esukarēto shi, saishūteki ni wa karera ga tagai ni naguriatta.
The argument escalated, and they eventually punched each other.
彼女は彼に殴りかかるのを寸前で止めた。
Kanojo wa kare ni nagurikakaru no o sunzen de yameta.
She stopped herself just before lunging at him to hit him.
犯人は被害者の顔を何度も殴りつけたと報告されている。
Hannin wa higaisha no kao o nandomo naguritsuketa to hōkoku sareteiru.
It is reported that the culprit punched the victim's face repeatedly and forcefully.
警察は深夜の路上で発生した殴打事件を捜査中だ。
Keisatsu wa shinya no rojō de hassei shita ōdajiken o sōsa-chū da.
The police are investigating an assault case that occurred on the street late at night.
怒りに任せて思わず相手を殴りそうになった。
Ikari ni makasete omowazu aite o nagurisō ni natta.
Overwhelmed by anger, I almost involuntarily punched the other person.
彼は突然、容疑者に顔面を殴られた。
Kare wa totsuzen, yōgisha ni ganmen o nagurareta.
He was suddenly punched in the face by the suspect.
その小説には、主人公が敵を殴り倒す場面がある。
Sono shōsetsu ni wa, shujinkō ga teki o naguritaosu bamen ga aru.
That novel has a scene where the protagonist knocks down an enemy with a punch.
彼は衝動的に人を殴るような人間ではない。
Kare wa shōdōteki ni hito o naguru yō na ningen de wa nai.
He is not the kind of person who would impulsively hit people.
Memory Tip
To remember the kanji 殴, focus on its visual components and their conveyed meaning. On the right, you'll find the radical 殳 (ほこづくり), meaning "weapon" or "spear," strongly associated with striking or attacking with a blunt object. Imagine this radical as a hand holding a club, ready to strike.
On the left is 區 (く), primarily a phonetic component, hinting at the On'yomi 'ō'. However, you can creatively interpret 區 as representing an "area" or "enclosure." Imagine someone forcefully striking a target within an "enclosure" with a weapon.
The radical 殳 is key here; its aggressive, weapon-like appearance powerfully reinforces the core meaning of "to strike" or "to punch." Whenever you see 殳, think of forceful action. Combine this with the phonetic component to solidify 殴 as "to strike violently."