Meaning
The kanji 厄 (yaku) primarily signifies calamity, misfortune, disaster, or adversity. It represents an unfortunate event or a period of bad luck that individuals or groups might encounter. This kanji often evokes a sense of unavoidable fate or a predicament causing trouble and suffering. You'll frequently encounter 厄 in contexts related to specific unlucky years in life (厄年, yakudoshi) or rituals to ward off bad luck (厄払い, yakubarai).
While its exact origin is debated, 厄 is commonly interpreted as an ideogram. The top component, 厂 (gan), often signifies a cliff, a corner, or a building with a roof. This can metaphorically represent a boundary, confinement, or a dangerous place. The bottom component, 卩 (fushizukuri or warifu), originally depicted a kneeling person, or a seal/knot. When combined, one interpretation suggests a person (卩) trapped or cornered under a cliff (厂). This arrangement symbolizes being caught in a difficult or restrictive situation, a predicament, or misfortune. Another view connects 卩 to a seal, suggesting a sealed fate or a knot of trouble. Regardless of the precise etymology, these visual components strongly evoke a sense of being constrained by an unfavorable circumstance.
This kanji has 4 strokes. It's not assigned a specific grade level in the Japanese elementary school system, making it an advanced kanji typically learned at the N1 level of the JLPT.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The primary On'yomi reading for 厄 is ヤク (yaku). This reading is used extensively in most compound words where 厄 conveys calamity, misfortune, or trouble. It carries a strong connotation of something burdensome or negative, often linked to fate or a particular phase of life.
- 厄年 (yakudoshi) — Unlucky year; a critical age believed to be prone to misfortune (e.g., for men, 25, 42, 61; for women, 19, 33, 37).
- 厄介 (yakkai) — Trouble, burden, bother; also, a troublesome person or a dependant. This word's pronunciation changes due to gemination (っ).
- 厄病 (yakubyō) — Epidemic; a widespread disease that brings misfortune.
- 厄災 (yakusai) — Calamity; disaster; similar to 災厄 but with 厄 taking precedence.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
While 厄 is primarily known for its On'yomi ヤク, some dictionaries and contexts might list やく (yaku) as a special Kun'yomi. This occurs particularly when it refers to the concept of misfortune or evil itself, often in phrases related to warding off bad luck. It's important to note that this 'やく' reading largely overlaps with the On'yomi ヤク. It is not a distinct native Japanese verb or adjective stem in the way many other kanji have Kun'yomi. Instead, it functions as a noun representing the native concept of 'calamity' in certain established compounds, where its sound happens to be the same as its On'yomi.
- 厄払い (yakubarai) — Exorcism of evil spirits; warding off evil/misfortune. Here, 厄 directly refers to the misfortune being driven away.
- 厄落とし (yakuotoshi) — A ritual or custom to avert misfortune, often done by giving away something valuable during an unlucky year.
- 厄除け (yakuyoke) — A charm or prayer for protection against evil/misfortune. Similar to 厄払い but often refers to preventative measures or amulets.
Common Words & Compounds
The kanji 厄 appears in various compounds, predominantly expressing ideas of misfortune, difficulty, and actions related to averting them.
- General Misfortune / Calamity:
- 災厄 (saiyaku) — Disaster, calamity, misfortune. This is a common compound emphasizing widespread, severe misfortune.
- 厄運 (yakuun) — Misfortune, ill fate. Refers to a period or state of bad luck.
- 厄難 (yannan) — Disaster, calamity, misfortune. Similar to 災厄 but can sometimes imply a more personal struggle.
- 厄病神 (yakubyōgami) — God of plague; a jinx or person who brings bad luck.
- Trouble / Burden:
- 厄介者 (yakkaimono) — A troublesome person; a burden; a dependant.
- 厄介事 (yakkai-goto) — Troublesome matter; difficulty; nuisance.
- Averting Misfortune:
- 厄除け札 (yakuyokefuda) — A charm or talisman for warding off evil/misfortune.
- 厄払いに行く (yakubarai ni iku) — To go to a shrine for an exorcism or to ward off misfortune.
Example Sentences
今年は私の厄年なので、神社へ厄払いに行きました。
Kotoshi wa watashi no yakudoshi nano de, jinja e yakubarai ni ikimashita.
This year is my unlucky year, so I went to a shrine to ward off misfortune.
その事件は彼にとって大きな厄災となった。
Sono jiken wa kare ni totte ōkina yakusai to natta.
That incident became a great calamity for him.
この厄介者をどうにかしなければならない。
Kono yakkaimono o dōnika shinakereba naranai.
I have to do something about this troublesome person (or burden).
長引く不況は社会に大きな厄運をもたらした。
Nagabiku fukyō wa shakai ni ōkina yakuun o motarashita.
The prolonged recession brought great misfortune to society.
引っ越しは荷物が多くて本当に厄介だ。
Hikkoshi wa nimotsu ga ookute hontō ni yakkai da.
Moving is truly a bother with so much luggage.
家族の中で誰かが厄病にかかると大変だ。
Kazoku no naka de dareka ga yakubyō ni kakaruto taihen da.
It would be terrible if someone in the family caught an epidemic.
旅行先で思いがけない厄介事に巻き込まれてしまった。
Ryokōsaki de omoigakenai yakkaigoto ni makikomarete shimatta.
I got caught up in an unexpected troublesome matter at my travel destination.
彼は自分が家族にとって厄病神だと感じていた。
Kare wa jibun ga kazoku ni totte yakubyōgami da to kanjite ita.
He felt that he was a jinx (god of misfortune) to his family.
交通安全の厄除けを祈願した。
Kōtsū anzen no yakuyoke o kigan shita.
I prayed for protection from misfortune for traffic safety.
Memory Tip
To remember 厄, consider its two components. The top component, 厂, resembles a cliff or a dangerous overhang. The bottom component, 卩, can be seen as a kneeling person, or perhaps someone trapped. Imagine a poor person (卩) trapped under a looming cliff (厂), facing an inescapable predicament or a great calamity. This visual of being cornered or confined by an unfortunate circumstance helps reinforce the meaning of misfortune or disaster associated with 厄.