Kanji: 窒 (Choke/Obstruct)
The kanji 窒 carries the core meaning of "to choke," "to block," or "to obstruct." It is most commonly associated with the concept of being blocked or deprived of air.
Key Reading:
On-yomi (Sino-Japanese reading): チツ (chitsu)
Common Words & Usage:
窒息 (chissoku) - Noun/Suru-verb. Suffocation, choking.
窒素 (chisso) - Noun. Nitrogen (the element that does not support life, hence "choking element").
窒息死 (chissokushi) - Noun. Death by suffocation.
Example Sentence:
Japanese: 小さな子供がおもちゃを飲み込み、窒息する危険がある。
Romaji: Chīsana kodomo ga omocha o nomikomi, chissoku suru kiken ga aru.
English: There is a danger of small children swallowing toys and choking.
Learning the correct stroke order for kanji like 窒 is essential for balanced, legible Japanese handwriting and is a fundamental part of mastering kanji writing.