越 means “cross over, exceed”

こえる · koeru

Also: surpass, move to

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

こす, こえる

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

エツ, オツ

JLPT N3 · Taught in secondary school · 12 strokes

The story

Picture a runner (走) with a battle-axe (戉) on his shoulder, clearing whatever stands in his way. 越 is getting over and past: 越える crosses a mountain pass or a limit, and 引っ越し is moving house.

Used in 引っ越し (hikkoshi, moving house), 越える (koeru, to cross over), and 乗り越える (norikoeru, to overcome)

More from Coming & Going

• 到 arrive
• 連 take along
• 向 face
• 放 release
• 残 remain
• 追 chase
• 落 fall
• 退 retreat
• 路 road
• 込 crowded
• 途 way
• 留 stay

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