釈 (shì) - To explain, interpret & to release, set free

釈Tone 4

shì ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

上姝

釈 · shì

To explain, interpret;

to release, set free;

to let go, relinquish;

to resolve, clear up.

To explain, interpretto release, set freeto let go, relinquish

Usage highlights

ExplanationRelease from prisonClarification, explanationInterpretation of meaningAnnotation, commentaryTo dispel doubts

Synonyms

  • 解— to untie, explain
  • 説— to explain, speak
  • 明— to clarify, brighten

Antonyms

  • 捕— to capture, arrest
  • 縛— to bind, tie
  • 疑— to doubt, suspect

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The teacher explained the meaning of the text (釈義).
  • He was released from prison (釈放).
  • Please explain your point of view (釈明).
  • The monk gave a lecture on the Buddhist sutra (説釈).

Collocations

  • Explanation(解釈)
  • Release from prison(釈放)
  • Clarification, explanation(釈明)
  • Interpretation of meaning(釈義)
  • Annotation, commentary(注釈)
  • To dispel doubts(疑念を釈く)

Idioms

  • To release from suspicion(疑いを釈く)
  • To explain the profound in simple terms(深遠な道理を平易に釈く)
  • To dispel doubts and explain clearly(疑念を釈き明らかにする)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • This character is the Japanese Shinjitai (simplified) form of the traditional Chinese character 釋.
  • It is strongly associated with Buddhist terminology in Japan, as 釈迦 (Shaka) is the Japanese reading for 'Shakyamuni', the historical Buddha.
  • The original Chinese character 釋 is a phono-semantic compound, with 釆 (bàn) as the semantic component meaning 'distinguish' and 睪 (yì) as the phonetic component.

FAQ