遺 means “leave behind, bequeath”

い · i

Also: reserve

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

のこす

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

イ, ユイ

JLPT N1 · Taught in grade 6 · 15 strokes

The story

Something precious (貴) on the road (辶): picture valuables left behind by someone who has moved on. 遺 is what remains after a person is gone: 遺産 is an inheritance, a 世界遺産 is World Heritage, and a will, 遺言, takes the rare reading ゆい.

Used in 遺産 (isan, inheritance/heritage), 遺跡 (iseki, ruins), and 遺言 (yuigon, will/last words)

More from Graves & Mourning

• 葬 funeral
• 喪 mourning
• 墓 grave
• 悼 grieve
• 墳 burial mound
• 弔 mourn
• 忌 shun
• 逝 pass away
• 殉 die for a cause
• 棺 coffin
• 訃 news of a death
• 骸 bones

Learn 遺 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.