契 means “contract, pledge”

けい · kei

Also: promise, vow

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading): ちぎる
On'yomi (Chinese reading): ケイ

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 9 strokes

The story

Notches (丰) cut with a knife (刀) into a big (大) tally stick: an ancient way to record a deal. 契約 is a contract, 契約書 is the paper you sign, and 契機 is the turning point that sets things in motion.

Used in 契約 (keiyaku, contract), 契機 (keiki, opportunity/trigger), and 契る (chigiru, to pledge)

契 means “contract, pledge”

The story

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