威 means “dignity, might, authority”

い · i

Also: intimidate, majesty, menace

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

おどす, おどし, おどかす

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

イ

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 9 strokes

The story

A woman (女) inside a weapon (戌): picture a matriarch holding a halberd, and nobody arguing. 威 is power that commands respect: 権威 is authority, 威力 sheer force, 脅威 a threat, and 威張る is to throw your weight around.

Used in 権威 (ken'i, authority), 威力 (iryoku, power/force), and 威張る (ibaru, to act big)

More from Crests & Honors

• 旗 flag
• 誇 pride
• 彰 commend
• 卓 table
• 銘 inscription
• 冠 crown
• 勲 meritorious deed
• 紋 crest
• 碑 monument
• 傑 outstanding
• 褒 praise
• 璽 imperial seal

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

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