abuse / cruel
N1- Onyomi
- ギャク
- Kunyomi
- しいた(げる)
- Stroke count
- 9
- JLPT
- N1
Onyomi are readings often used in compound words. Kunyomi are native Japanese readings. Learn each reading with an example word.
Memory tip
Break 虐 down and you get 虍 (tiger) — a tiger's striped head, seen from the front. Picture a four-legged animal standing in profile, put 虐 inside it, and let that scene stand for "abuse" — abuse / cruel. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.
Stroke Order
Stroke count: 9
General writing tips
These general rules have exceptions. Follow the animation and numbered frames for this character.
- •上から下へ書きます。Write from top to bottom.
- •左から右へ書きます。Write from left to right.
- •横の画を先に、縦の画を後に書きます。Write horizontal strokes before the vertical strokes that cross them.
- •外側の囲みを先に書き、中を後で書きます。Draw an outer enclosure first, then fill in what is inside.
- •中央を先に、左右を後に書きます。In symmetric shapes, write the centre before the left and right sides.
- •この漢字は9画です。下の練習エリアで順番に書いてみましょう。This kanji has 9 strokes — trace them in order in the practice area below.
Step by step
Practice Writing
Free writing practice — compare your writing with the example. This canvas does not check your shape or stroke order. Draw with a mouse, finger, or pen; scroll outside the square to move down the page.
Trace the faded character, or hide the outline to practise from memory.
Writing Tips
- Follow the order strictly: top-to-bottom and left-to-right. Correct order makes the shape balanced and natural.
- Keep each stroke in one smooth motion — don't lift the pen in the middle of a stroke.
- Close enclosing strokes cleanly so the character does not look open or broken.
- Common mistake: drawing strokes bottom-to-top or right-to-left. Even if the result looks similar, the wrong order shows in handwriting and makes it harder to read.
Example words
虐待
gyakutai
abuse
虐げる
shiitageru
to oppress
虐げて
shiitagete
oppress — te-form
虐待する
gyakutaisuru
to do abuse
虐げます
shiitagemasu
oppress — polite present
虐げない
shiitagenai
oppress — plain negative
Example sentences (4)
動物の虐待は犯罪です。
どうぶつ の ぎゃくたい は はんざい です。
doubutsu no gyakutai wa hanzai desu.
Animal abuse is a crime.
幼い子どもへの虐待の報道に触れるたび、憤りを禁じ得ません。
おさない こども へ の ぎゃくたい の ほうどう に ふれる たび、いきどおり を きんじえません。
osanai kodomo e no gyakutai no houdou ni fureru tabi, ikidoori o kinjiemasen.
Every time I come across reports of abuse of young children, I cannot suppress my anger.
立場の弱い人を虐げてはいけません。
たちば の よわい ひと を しいたげて は いけません。
tachiba no yowai hito o shiitagete wa ikemasen.
You must not oppress those in a weaker position.
虐げられてきた人々の歴史を学ぶことは、現在を考える手がかりになります。
しいたげられて きた ひとびと の れきし を まなぶ こと は、げんざい を かんがえる てがかり に なります。
shiitagerarete kita hitobito no rekishi o manabu koto wa, genzai o kangaeru tegakari ni narimasu.
Learning the history of oppressed peoples gives us a way into thinking about the present.