Meaning
Let's explore the fascinating world of 打つ! This versatile N2 JLPT kanji primarily means to hit, strike, or beat. However, its applications extend much further. Depending on the context and the compound it forms, it can also encompass ideas like knocking, attacking, making, or even building. Consider it the primary kanji for any action involving impact or forceful physical interaction.
The origin of 打 is quite illustrative. Understanding it makes connecting its visual form to its meaning much easier. It's a phono-semantic compound, combining a component for meaning with another for sound. On the left, you'll find the radical 手 (hand), which transforms into its radical form 扌 when placed on the left side of a character. This radical clearly shows that the kanji's meaning involves a hand action. The right side, 丁 (often pronounced chō or tei), primarily functions as a phonetic component. It provides the kanji with a sound similar to its ancient Chinese pronunciation. Interestingly, 丁 can also refer to a nail or a block. This subtly reinforces the idea of striking or fixing something with a tool, much like hammering a nail.
Picture a hand (扌) actively engaged in the motion of hitting or striking. Perhaps it's hitting a T-shaped object or using a tool. This strong visual connection makes its core meaning quite intuitive to remember. With just 5 strokes, 打 is taught in the 3rd grade of Japanese elementary school. This makes it a relatively fundamental character, despite its N2 JLPT classification for broader usage.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The On'yomi, or Chinese-derived reading, for 打 is primarily ダ (da). You'll often find this reading in compound words, especially those with more formal or technical connotations. These terms frequently relate to physical impact, damage, or actions in sports.
- 打撃 (dageki) — This word means a 'blow,' 'hit,' or 'shock.' It can refer to a physical punch or abstract impacts like an economic shock or psychological blow.
例：経済の打撃は深刻だった。(The economic blow was severe.)
- 打者 (dasha) — In sports, particularly baseball, this term refers to a 'batter.'
例：その打者はホームランを打った。(That batter hit a home run.)
- 打線 (dasen) — This term refers to a 'batting lineup' in baseball, specifying the order in which players will bat.
例：我々のチームは強力な打線を持っている。(Our team has a powerful batting lineup.)
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The Kun'yomi, or native Japanese readings, truly showcase 打's versatility. They appear most often as verbs or parts of verb compounds.
- う.つ (u.tsu) — This is the most common and versatile Kun'yomi. It means 'to hit,' 'strike,' 'beat,' 'shoot,' 'type,' or 'hammer.' As a transitive verb, it always requires a direct object.
例：ボールを打つ (bōru wo utsu) — to hit a ball.
例：太鼓を打つ (taiko wo utsu) — to beat a drum.
例：鍵盤を打つ (kenban wo utsu) — to type on a keyboard.
- ぶ.つ (bu.tsu) — While often written with 打つ or 叩く, 打つ conveys a slightly more colloquial, sometimes rougher nuance. It means 'to hit,' 'strike,' or 'bump into,' often implying an accidental or forceful impact.
例：壁に頭を打つ (kabe ni atama wo butsu) — to hit one's head on the wall.
**う.ち
(u.chi-)** — This reading often appears as a prefix or part of compound verbs. It can add nuances of 'beginning,' 'finishing,' 'mutual action,' or 'thoroughness.'
例：打ち合わせ (uchiawase) — a preliminary meeting or arrangement.
例：打ち消す (uchikesu) — to deny or negate.
例：打ち込む (uchikomu) — to drive in (a nail), to type in (data), or to devote oneself to something.
Common Words & Compounds
The kanji 打 is incredibly productive. It forms a wide array of words, covering everything from physical actions to abstract concepts. Here are some common and useful examples, categorized by theme.
Physical Actions & Impact
- 打撃 (dageki) — Blow, hit, shock, damage. This term can refer to both physical hits and abstract impacts, such as economic damage or a psychological blow.
- 打撲 (daboku) — A bruise or contusion. In medical contexts, this term often describes injuries resulting from a blunt force.
- 殴打 (ōda) — Assault, a violent blow. This implies a more aggressive, and potentially criminal, act of hitting.
- 強打 (kyōda) — A hard hit, powerful blow. Commonly used in sports to describe a forceful strike.
- 打倒 (datō) — Overthrow, defeat. This implies striking down an opponent or an opposing force, often in a political or competitive context.
Sports & Games
- 打者 (dasha) — Batter (in baseball). The player whose turn it is to hit the ball.
- 打点 (daten) — RBI (Runs Batted In). A crucial baseball statistic indicating how many runs a batter has driven in.
- 打球 (dakyū) — A batted ball. Refers to a ball that a batter has hit.
- 打率 (daritsu) — Batting average. A statistical measure of a batter's performance.
- 打撃戦 (dagekisen) — A slugfest, a hitting battle (in sports). A game characterized by a lot of hitting and scoring.
Meetings, Communication & Information Processing
- 打ち合わせ (uchiawase) — A preliminary meeting, an appointment, or arrangements. This refers to a discussion where ideas are 'struck together' to prepare for something.
- 打診 (dashin) — Sounding out, tentative inquiry, or percussion (medical). It means to gently tap or probe for information or a reaction, often metaphorically.
- 打ち込む (uchikomu) — To drive in (a nail), to type in (data), to devote oneself to something. The idea of hitting something into another.
- 打ち出す (uchidasu) — To launch, to start (a policy), to print out. To 'strike out' (like from a starting point) or initiate something.
Ending & Negation
- 打ち切り (uchikiri) — Termination, cancellation (e.g., of a TV series or a contract). To 'strike off' or cut something short, like a TV series or a contract.
- 打ち消す (uchikesu) — To deny, negate, contradict. To 'strike out' or erase a statement or claim, effectively denying or negating it.
Example Sentences
彼は野球のボールを力強く打ちました。
Kare wa yakyū no bōru wo chikarazuyoku uchimashita.
He powerfully hit the baseball.
明日の会議の打ち合わせをしましょう。
Ashita no kaigi no uchiawase wo shimashō.
Let's have a preliminary meeting for tomorrow's conference.
彼女はパソコンのキーボードを素早く打っている。
Kanojo wa pasokon no kībōdo wo subayaku utteiru.
She is quickly typing on the computer keyboard.
その事件は会社に大きな打撃を与えました。
Sono jiken wa kaisha ni ōkina dageki wo ataemashita.
That incident dealt a huge blow to the company.
彼は自分の過ちを必死に打ち消そうとした。
Kare wa jibun no ayamachi wo hisshi ni uchikesou to shita.
He desperately tried to deny his mistake.
頭をドアに打つけてしまって、痛かった。
Atama wo doa ni butsukete shimatte, itakatta.
I accidentally hit my head on the door, and it hurt.
番組は視聴率が悪くて打ち切りになった。
Bangumi wa shichōritsu ga warukute uchikiri ni natta.
The program was cancelled due to low ratings.
このデータをシステムに打ち込んでください。
Kono dēta wo shisutemu ni uchikonde kudasai.
Please type this data into the system.
その打者はホームランを打ち、3打点を挙げた。
Sono dasha wa hōmuran wo uchi, san daten wo ageta.
The batter hit a home run, scoring 3 RBIs.
Memory Tip
Learning to remember 打 can be quite enjoyable! Simply break it down into its two main components. On the left, you'll find the radical 扌, a stylized form of 手 (hand). This clearly indicates an action performed with a hand. On the right is 丁, which resembles a T-shaped nail or a simple block. So, picture a hand vigorously hitting or hammering a nail or a T-shaped object. This vivid image of a hand performing a striking action should help you recall the core meaning of 'to hit' or 'to strike' whenever you encounter 打.