Meaning
The kanji 穫 (かく) primarily refers to harvesting, reaping, gathering, or gaining, specifically in the context of agricultural produce. It denotes the act of collecting crops from fields, like grains, fruits, or vegetables. While it shares semantic overlap with its phonetic counterpart 獲 (かく), which means to obtain or capture more generally, 穫 focuses almost exclusively on yields from cultivation or fishing, emphasizing the bounty of the land and sea.
The visual shape of 穫 provides a strong hint at its meaning. The left radical, 禾 (のぎへん), is the “grain” or “cereal” radical, seen in many agriculture-related kanji like 秋 (autumn) and 科 (branch of study, formerly for distinguishing grains). This component firmly connects 穫 to farming and crops.
The right component, 隻 (せき), originally depicted a single bird or hand. It primarily functions as a phonetic element, giving the kanji its 'Kaku' reading. However, it can also evoke the idea of 'taking' or 'gathering' a single item, or 'clipping/cutting' from the grain. Together, these elements visually represent the act of 'taking' or 'gathering' grains or crops.
With 18 strokes, 穫 has a somewhat complex structure. It is not part of the standard Jōyō Kanji list, so it's an advanced kanji often encountered at the JLPT N1 level. Its usage mostly appears in compound words, where its meaning of 'harvest' or 'catch' clearly emerges.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The primary and most common on'yomi for 穫 is カク (KAKU). This reading is primarily used in compound words, where 穫 typically combines with other kanji to form more specific terms related to harvesting, capturing, or gaining. Understanding this reading is essential for comprehending many N1-level vocabulary items.
- 収穫 (shuukaku) — harvest, crop, yield, ingathering. This is by far the most common compound where 穫 appears, referring to the act of harvesting agricultural produce or the produce itself.
Example: 米の収穫 (kome no shuukaku) — rice harvest.
- 漁獲 (gyokaku) — fishing, catch (of fish or marine products). Here, 穫 extends its meaning to gathering produce from the sea.
Example: 大量の漁獲 (tairyou no gyokaku) — a large catch of fish.
- 捕獲 (hokaku) — capture, seizure. While 獲 (かく) is more commonly seen in this compound (捕獲), especially for animals or people, 穫 can also be used. If 穫 is used, it often implies a more archaic or literary 'taking' aspect.
Example: 害獣の捕獲 (gaijuu no hokaku) — capture of harmful animals.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The kun'yomi readings for 穫 are quite rare, usually overshadowed by its on'yomi compounds or other, more common kanji with similar meanings. The primary kun'yomi are と.る (to.ru) and か.る (ka.ru).
- 穫る (toru) — to harvest, to reap. This usage is uncommon in modern Japanese, with 採る (toru - to pick, to gather) or 捕る (toru - to catch, to capture) being more frequently used, or simply using the compound 収穫する.
Example: 畑で穫る (hatake de toru) — to harvest in the field (less common than 畑で採る).
- 刈り穫る (karitoru) — to harvest by cutting, to reap. This is a more specific and slightly more common kun'yomi combination that highlights the cutting action involved in harvesting, particularly grain.
Example: 麦を刈りる (mugi wo karitoru) — to reap wheat.
- 穫り入れ (toriire) — harvesting, ingathering. This term emphasizes the act of bringing in the harvest, though 収穫 is generally preferred.
Example: 稲の穫りれ時 (ine no toriiredoki) — rice harvesting season.
Common Words & Compounds
The kanji 穫 is most frequently seen in compound words, where its meaning of harvest or catch becomes clear. Here are some common and important compounds, grouped by theme, to deepen your understanding:
Agricultural & Produce Harvest
- 収穫 (shuukaku) — The most fundamental and common word, meaning harvest, crop, or yield. It can refer to both the act of harvesting and the harvested goods themselves.
- 収穫期 (shuukakuki) — Harvest season. This specifies the period when crops are gathered.
- 収穫物 (shuukakubutsu) — Harvested goods, produce. Refers to the actual items collected from a harvest.
- 豊作の収穫 (housaku no shuukaku) — A bountiful harvest. Describes a particularly good and plentiful harvest.
- 穫りたて (toritate) — Freshly harvested or gathered. This adjective is often used to describe produce that has just been picked, emphasizing its freshness.
Fishing & Wildlife Capture
- 漁獲 (gyokaku) — Fishing, catch (of fish). This term specifically refers to the act of catching fish or the amount of fish caught.
- 漁獲量 (gyokakuryou) — Amount of fish caught, catch yield. Measures the quantity of marine life obtained.
- 捕獲 (hokaku) — Capture, seizure. While 獲 (かく) is more common here, 穫 can be used, particularly in older or more specific contexts, implying the taking of something, often an animal.
- 捕獲作戦 (hokakusakusen) — Capture operation. A planned effort to capture something, often used in contexts of wildlife management or security.
- 大漁穫 (tairyoukaku) — A large catch (of fish). Similar to 豊作 for agriculture, but for fishing.
Example Sentences
今年は米の収穫が豊作でした。
Kotoshi wa kome no shuukaku ga housaku deshita.
This year's rice harvest was bountiful.
農家の人達は早朝から収穫に励んでいます。
Nouka no hitotachi wa souchou kara shuukaku ni hagendeimasu.
The farmers are working diligently on the harvest from early morning.
秋は果物の収穫期で、様々な種類が市場に並びます。
Aki wa kudamono no shuukakuki de, samazama na shurui ga ichiba ni narabimasu.
Autumn is the fruit harvest season, and various kinds line the markets.
海での漁獲量は年々減少傾向にある。
Umi de no gyokakuryou wa nennen genshou keikou ni aru.
The amount of fish caught in the sea is on a decreasing trend year by year.
動物園で逃げ出した虎の捕獲作戦が行われました。
Doubutsuen de nigedashita tora no hokaku sakusen ga okonawaremashita.
A capture operation for the tiger that escaped from the zoo was carried out.
畑で穫れたての野菜は本当に美味しい。
Hatake de toritate no yasai wa hontou ni oishii.
Freshly harvested vegetables from the field are truly delicious.
彼らは自分達で穫った米で餅を作った。
Karera wa jibuntachi de totta kome de mochi wo tsukutta.
They made mochi with the rice they harvested themselves.
収穫した果物はすぐに加工工場へ運ばれます。
Shuukaku shita kudamono wa sugu ni kakoukoujou e hakobaremasu.
The harvested fruits are immediately transported to the processing factory.
麦を刈りるのは重労働だが、達成感がある。
Mugi wo karitoru no wa juuroudou daga, tasseikan ga aru.
Reaping wheat is hard labor, but there's a sense of accomplishment.
Memory Tip
To remember 穫, focus on its two main components. On the left, 禾 (nogihen), the “grain” radical, points to agriculture and crops. On the right, we see 隻 (seki), which contributes the sound “Kaku.” It can also be visualized to reinforce the meaning. Imagine a farmer using a single tool (represented by the 'single' aspect of 隻, or its hand-like form) to gather abundant grains (禾) from the field. Alternatively, picture a bird (from 隻's etymology) flying over a field of grains (禾), symbolizing a natural 'taking' or 'gathering'. This mental image directly links 'harvesting' to agricultural products, helping solidify the meaning of 穫.