挫 means “setback, crush, sprain”

ざ · za

Also: break, discourage

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

くじく, くじける

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ザ, サ

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 10 strokes

The story

A hand (扌) pushing two people (人 人) down until they sit in the dirt (土): knocked flat. 挫折 is a setback that crushes your plans, 捻挫 is a sprain, and 挫ける is to lose heart.

Used in 挫折 (zasetsu, setback/frustration), 捻挫 (nenza, sprain), and 挫ける (kujikeru, to lose heart)

More from Grit & Resolve

• 堪 hold back
• 諦 give up
• 志 aspiration
• 徹 thorough
• 貫 pierce
• 頑 stubborn
• 耐 withstand
• 克 overcome
• 遂 accomplish
• 誓 vow
• 忍 endure

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

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