What does the kanji 遅 mean?

Memory hook

Dragging something heavy along the road (辶), so you are slow and arrive late — LATE, SLOW.

Main radical

Built from

• 王king 4 strokes
• 辵walk, movement 7 strokes
• 并stroke shape, no meaning of its own 2 strokes
• 羊sheep 6 strokes
• 尸bent body 3 strokes

Stroke order · 12 strokes

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
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• 12

Common words

• 遅いおそいslow; late
• 遅れおくれa delay
• 遅刻ちこくbeing late (for something)
• 遅らすおくらすto delay, to postpone
• 遅れるおくれるto be late; to run slow (a clock)

More words with this kanji

• 遅延ちえんdelay (delivery, trains)
• 手遅れておくれtoo late, too late for treatment
• 遅くともおそくともat the latest