攻

音読おんよみ: コウ

訓読くんよみ: せめる

画数かくすう: 7

部首ぶしゅ: のぶん（攵）

Meaning

Attack / Offense / Assault.

  • 攻せめる — to attack; to go on the offensive
  • 攻撃こうげき — attack; offensive; assault
  • 攻略こうりゃく — capture; strategy/guide (game攻略)
  • 攻守こうしゅ — offense and defense
  • 先攻せんこう — batting/serving first; first attack
  • 進攻しんこう — advance; offensive
  • 専攻せんこう — (academic) major; specialization
  • 攻防こうぼう — offense and defense; attack and defense

On the right, the radical 攵 (のぶん) means “action/strike.” On the left, 工 gives the sound コウ. Together: a deliberate action (攵) carried out with method or “work” (工) — hence the idea of an attack, going on the offense.

守

Remember it with the pair 攻 (attack) vs. 守 (defend). Picture a match: when you go on the attack (攻), the other side must defend (守). That contrast locks in the meaning instantly.

略
Strategy

攻略こうりゃく — to capture/overcome; a strategy or “guide” (esp. in gaming)

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