戚 means “relatives”

せき · seki

Also: grieve

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

いたむ, うれえる, みうち

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ソク, セキ

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 11 strokes

The story

The frame of a halberd (戈) around 上 over 小, the same piece that sits in 叔, uncle: picture the family heirloom with the uncles gathered round. 親戚 are your relatives, the crowd that fills the house at New Year and at funerals.

Used in 親戚 (shinseki, relatives) and 外戚 (gaiseki, relatives on the mother's side)

More from Kin & Cradle

• 氏 family name
• 系 lineage
• 郎 son
• 継 inherit
• 誕 birth
• 妊 pregnant
• 稚 young
• 嫁 bride
• 娠 pregnancy
• 胎 womb
• 叔 uncle
• 姻 marriage

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

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