救 means “save, rescue”

すくう · sukuu

Also: salvation, help

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

すくう

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

キュウ

JLPT N1 · Taught in grade 5 · 11 strokes

The story

Someone pleading for help (求, to seek) and a hand with a stick (攵) leaping into action: a rescue. 救う is to save, 救助 is a rescue, and 救急車 is the ambulance that comes when you dial 119 in Japan.

Used in 救う (sukuu, to save/rescue), 救急車 (kyuukyuusha, ambulance), and 救助 (kyuujo, rescue)

More from Help & Protect

• 養 nourish
• 祉 welfare
• 擁 embrace
• 恩 kindness
• 扶 support
• 保 keep
• 援 help
• 護 protect
• 衛 guard

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

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