Meaning
威 is about power that commands obedience — whether earned through respect or imposed through fear. Its core meanings cover authority, dignity, might, and to intimidate. What sets 威 apart from raw physical strength is presence: a general's bearing on the battlefield, a judge's gravity in court, or the boss who makes subordinates nervous just by entering the room.
威 is a compound ideograph (会意文字) built from 戊 (an ancient battle-axe or halberd) and 女 (woman). The weapon-wielder holds authority over others — armed force as the foundation of social hierarchy. The upper strokes suggest the weapon; the lower 女 roots the concept in human relationships.
Some scholars read the character as depicting the display of a weapon before those who must submit — power demonstrated, not merely held. In modern usage, 威 appears across political writing, historical texts, military discourse, and formal news media. It has 9 strokes and sits at the N1 level on the JLPT scale, categorized as a high-school kanji in Japan's education system.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The sole on'yomi is イ. Most vocabulary you will encounter uses this reading — formal compound words dealing with authority, prestige, and coercion in written Japanese.
Common compounds using the イ reading:
- 威力 (iryoku) — raw power or force; used for typhoons, weapons, or a devastating argument in court
- 威圧 (iatsu) — coercive pressure; crushing someone through sheer dominance
- 威厳 (igen) — dignity, gravity; the quality that makes a room go quiet
- 威嚇 (ikaku) — threat, menace; a warning backed by the credible use of force
- 威信 (ishin) — prestige, institutional credibility
- 威勢 (isei) — vigor and authority; 威勢がいい describes someone loud, assertive, and full of energy
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
All three kun'yomi forms express the direct act of threatening or frightening someone. The nuance between them is subtle:
- 威す (odosu) — to threaten with clear intent to coerce; the most forceful form
- 威し (odoshi) — a threat; the noun form of おどす
- 威かす (odokasu) — to scare or bluff; softer than おどす, sometimes implying a hollow warning rather than a genuine one
Examples using kun'yomi:
- 彼を威してはいけない。(Kare wo odoshite wa ikenai.) — You must not threaten him.
- 子供を威かすのはよくない。(Kodomo wo odokasu no wa yokunai.) — Scaring children into compliance is never a good idea.
Common Words & Compounds
威 groups naturally into three themes: social authority, applied force, and behavior. Learning them by cluster makes the vocabulary stick faster.
Authority and prestige:
権威 (ken'i) — authority; an expert or institution that others defer to without question
威信 (ishin) — prestige, credibility; the standing that makes others trust — or fear — you
威厳 (igen) — dignity, majesty; a gravitas that silences a room
威風 (ifuu) — commanding bearing; the aura of someone who walks in and immediately owns the space
威容 (iyou) — imposing appearance; how a fortress or powerful figure strikes those who behold it ### Force and intimidation:
威力 (iryoku) — might, destructive force; typhoons, nuclear tests, and killer arguments in court all 威力を発揮する
威圧 (iatsu) — intimidation through overpowering pressure or presence
威嚇 (ikaku) — an explicit threat or menacing gesture designed to make someone back down
脅威 (kyoui) — threat, menace; the standard news-media term for security or environmental threats
示威 (jii) — a show of force; also the literary word for a protest march (示威運動)
Behavior and manner:
- 威張る (ibaru) — to swagger, pull rank; the office bully who constantly reminds everyone of his seniority
- 威勢 (isei) — vigor and forcefulness; 威勢がいい conjures a market vendor bellowing confidently at customers
- 猛威 (moui) — savage, unstoppable force; 猛威を振るう means to rage or wreak havoc (typhoons, epidemics)
- 威圧的 (iatsuteki) — intimidating in manner; the opposite of approachable
Example Sentences
彼は権威ある学者として知られている。
Kare wa ken'i aru gakusha toshite shirarete iru.
He is widely recognized as an authoritative scholar in the field.
その台風は猛威を振るい、多くの家を壊した。
Sono taifuu wa moui wo furui, ooku no ie wo kowashita.
The typhoon raged across the region and destroyed many homes.
社長は威厳のある態度で会議を進めた。
Shachou wa igen no aru taido de kaigi wo susumeta.
The company president ran the meeting with calm, commanding authority.
核兵器は国際社会への脅威となっている。
Kaku heiki wa kokusai shakai e no kyoui to natte iru.
Nuclear weapons remain a serious threat to the international community.
あの上司はいつも威張っていて、部下から嫌われている。
Ano joushi wa itsumo ibatte ite, buka kara kirawarete iru.
That manager constantly throws his weight around — no wonder the whole team resents him.
警察は威嚇射撃を行って群衆を散らした。
Keisatsu wa ikaku shageki wo okonatte gunshuu wo chirashita.
Police fired warning shots and dispersed the crowd.
彼女は威圧的な態度をとることなく、穏やかに交渉した。
Kanojo wa iatsuteki na taido wo toru koto naku, odayaka ni koushou shita.
She kept her tone calm throughout the negotiation, never resorting to pressure tactics.
その国の威信は経済危機によって大きく傷ついていた。
Sono kuni no ishin wa keizai kiki ni yotte ookiku kizutsuite ita.
The country's international standing had been badly damaged by the economic crisis.
示威運動は政府の政策に反対する市民たちによって行われた。
Jii undou wa seifu no seisaku ni hantai suru shimin-tachi ni yotte okonawareta.
Citizens opposing the government's policies staged a demonstration march.
彼は上司に威されて、しかたなく書類に署名した。
Kare wa joushi ni odosarete, shikata naku shorui ni shomei shita.
Threatened by his boss, he had no choice but to sign the documents.
Memory Tip
Picture a warrior raising a battle-axe (戊) before someone who has no choice but to yield — that is the core image of 威. The upper strokes are the weapon; the lower 女 anchors the character in human social hierarchy. 威 spans two registers: earned authority (威厳, 権威 — the kind that silences a room) and imposed coercion (威圧, 威嚇 — the kind backed by a raised weapon). When you spot 威 in a word, ask: is this the dignity of a judge, or the menace of a bully? Context usually answers — but the underlying force is always the same.