Meaning
契 (ケイ, ちぎ・る) means contract, pledge, vow, and covenant. At its core, it conveys binding commitment — not a casual promise, but an obligation with real weight behind it. You'll find it most in formal settings: legal documents, business correspondence, academic writing, and classical literature. The character sits at the intersection of Japan's ancient past and its modern legal system.
Etymologically, 契 is a compound ideograph (会意文字, kaii moji) built from three visual elements: 丰 (carved notches on a surface), 刀 (knife or blade), and 大 (a person with outstretched arms). The image: a person gripping a blade and methodically cutting matching marks into wood or bamboo. This was the original contract.
In early East Asian cultures, a split tally stick served as legally binding proof of a debt or agreement. Two parties carved matching notches into the wood, then split it down the middle — each keeping one half. Only when the pieces fit together perfectly could the deal be verified. This system predated paper contracts by centuries.
Over time, the meaning moved from the physical act of carving to the abstract idea of binding commitment. Today 契 signals formality and gravity — the kind of promise that carries consequences. It has 9 strokes and is a high school-level Jōyō character, which is why it appears in written, formal Japanese far more often than in everyday speech.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
ケイ (kei) comes from the Middle Chinese pronunciation and appears almost exclusively in formal compound words (熟語, jukugo). It dominates legal, business, and academic writing. Unlike many kanji, 契 has just one on'yomi — when you spot ケイ in a compound, the context almost always points to an agreement, a contract, or the event that set off a significant change.
- 契約 (keiyaku) — contract, agreement; the most important compound using this kanji, found everywhere from apartment leases to corporate deals
- 契機 (keiki) — turning point, catalyst; the event that triggered a significant shift; common in journalism and academic writing
- 契合 (keigou) — agreement, conformity; used to describe two things that align or correspond perfectly
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
ちぎ(る) (chigi-ru) is the native Japanese verb meaning "to pledge" or "to vow." It carries emotional weight that the on'yomi reading lacks. In classical literature and waka poetry, ちぎ・る suggests deep feeling — not merely a formal promise, but something felt in the bones. As a noun, 契り (chigiri) can also mean fate or destiny, implying the bond between people was preordained rather than simply chosen.
- 契り (chigiri) — pledge, vow, bond, destiny; a deeply literary term for a connection that feels fated or spiritually binding
- 契る (chigiru) — to pledge, to vow; the verb form, used in formal, classical, or elevated literary Japanese
- 永遠の契り (eien no chigiri) — eternal vow; a set phrase found in romantic poetry, religious texts, and ceremonial language
Common Words & Compounds
契 anchors vocabulary across legal, business, and literary domains. The compounds below are grouped by context.
Legal and Business Terms
- 契約 (keiyaku) — contract, agreement; the cornerstone of Japanese commercial and legal transactions
- 契約書 (keiyakusho) — written contract; the physical or digital document that records the agreed terms
- 契約者 (keiyakusha) — contracting party, policyholder; the individual or organization entering the agreement as a signatory
- 契約違反 (keiyaku ihan) — breach of contract; failure to meet agreed terms, with legal consequences
- 契約期間 (keiyaku kikan) — contract period; the specified duration for which the agreement remains valid
- 労働契約 (rōdō keiyaku) — employment agreement, labor contract; the legally binding document between employer and employee
- 契約更新 (keiyaku kōshin) — contract renewal; extending or renegotiating an existing agreement upon expiration
Formal and Academic Terms
- 契機 (keiki) — turning point, catalyst; frequent in newspaper articles, political speeches, and academic papers
- 黙契 (mokkei) — tacit agreement, unspoken understanding; mutual comprehension reached without explicit words
- 契合 (keigou) — perfect alignment, conformity; when two elements match without discrepancy
Literary and Classical Terms
- 契り (chigiri) — pledge, vow, fate, destined bond; a poetic term central to classical Japanese literature and romantic poetry
- 縁の契り (en no chigiri) — bond of fate, destined connection; a relationship that was meant to exist
- 水の契り (mizu no chigiri) — fleeting bond; a literary expression for an impermanent connection, like water flowing away
Example Sentences
二人は新しい契約を結んだ。
Futari wa atarashii keiyaku wo musunda.
The two parties concluded a new contract.
契約書にサインする前に、内容をよく確認してください。
Keiyakusho ni sain suru mae ni, naiyou wo yoku kakunin shite kudasai.
Please check the contents carefully before signing the contract document.
この失敗が彼の成長の契機になった。
Kono shippai ga kare no seichō no keiki ni natta.
This failure became the catalyst for his personal growth.
彼女との契りは一生忘れない。
Kanojo to no chigiri wa isshō wasurenai.
I will never forget the vow I made with her for the rest of my life.
契約違反は法的な責任を伴う。
Keiyaku ihan wa hōteki na sekinin wo tomonau.
Breach of contract carries legal responsibility.
二人は神の前で永遠の契りを交わした。
Futari wa kami no mae de eien no chigiri wo kawashita.
The two exchanged eternal vows before God.
労働契約の期間は一年間です。
Rōdō keiyaku no kikan wa ichi-nen-kan desu.
The labor contract period is one year.
彼らは黙契のうちに協力し合った。
Karera wa mokkei no uchi ni kyōryoku shi atta.
They cooperated through a tacit understanding.
転職を考えるようになったのは、この事件が契機だった。
Tenshoku wo kangaeru yō ni natta no wa, kono jiken ga keiki datta.
It was this incident that triggered me to start considering a career change.
古い友人との深い契りは、何年たっても色褪せない。
Furui yūjin to no fukai chigiri wa, nannen tattemo iroasenai.
A deep bond with an old friend doesn't fade, no matter how many years pass.
Memory Tip
Picture an ancient scribe — a tall figure (大) gripping a sharp blade (刀) and carving matching notches (丰) into a bamboo tablet. Split the tablet, hand one half to each party. The deal is sealed. You can't alter it without destroying it — no hiding the tampering. That permanence is exactly what 契 carries into modern Japanese.
For the on'yomi ケイ (KEI), think: "K? Okay, we have a deal!" — two parties sealing an agreement on the spot. For the kun'yomi ちぎり (chigiri), notice that ちぎる also means "to tear apart." Two people tear a piece of paper in half, each keeping one piece as proof of their bond — a private echo of the ancient tally stick. Their fates are now tied together.