Meaning & readings

concerning, settle, take position, depart, study, per

On’yomi シュウ、ジュ
Kun’yomi つ.く、つ.ける
Nanori たか、なり

Origin

This character combines a position or capital () with the idea of being especially suitable or outstanding (尤). The left component originally depicted a tall building or structure, suggesting a place or seat. The right component 尤 conveys the sense of something being particularly fitting or right. Together, these parts suggest taking up a position or settling into a place that suits you — hence the meanings of "settle," "take position," and "depart to study." The character came to mean assuming a role or post that matches one's abilities or circumstances.

AI-generated (claude-haiku-4-5), not yet reviewed. Formation type (automated guess): Compound ideographic (combined meanings).

12 strokes

Components

  • meaning part left
  • meaning part right

Common words

  • 去就 きょしゅう leaving or staying
  • 就く つく to take (seat, position, course, office, etc.); to assume
  • 就学 しゅうがく entering school; school attendance
  • 就業 しゅうぎょう starting work (for the day)
  • 就航 しゅうこう entering service (on a route; of a plane or ship); going into commission
  • 就職 しゅうしょく finding employment; getting a job
  • 就寝 しゅうしん going to bed; retiring (for the night)
  • 就任 しゅうにん assumption (of office); taking up (a post)

Reference

Strokes
12
Kangxi radical
43
Grade
Grade 6 (Kyōiku)
Frequency rank
#624 (newspapers)
Former JLPT
level 1
Unicode
U+05C31