突 means “thrust, sudden”

とつ · totsu

Also: stab, protruding, pierce

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading): つく
On'yomi (Chinese reading): トツ, カ

JLPT N3 · Taught in secondary school · 8 strokes

The story

A dog (犬, trimmed to 大 in the modern form) bursting out of a hole (穴): the ancient picture of something sudden. 突然 means all of a sudden, 衝突 is a collision, and Japanese directions often say turn at the 突き当たり, where the street runs straight into another.

Used in 突然 (totsuzen, suddenly), 衝突 (shoutotsu, collision), and 突き当たり (tsukiatari, end of a street)

突 means “thrust, sudden”

The story

More from Victory & Defeat