釈 means “explain, release”

しゃく · shaku

Also: explanation

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading): とく, すてる, ゆるす
On'yomi (Chinese reading): シャク, セキ

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 11 strokes

The story

Picture 釆 as pawprints in the dirt and 尺 as a measure: a hunter reading the tracks to work out what passed by. 解釈 is interpretation, 釈明 explaining yourself in public, 釈放 releasing a prisoner, and 会釈 a small bow in passing.

Used in 解釈 (kaishaku, interpretation), 釈明 (shakumei, explanation), and 会釈 (eshaku, slight bow)

釈 means “explain, release”

The story

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