音読み: セン
訓読み: しめる・うらなう
画数: 5
部首: 卜（ぼく）
Meaning
Occupy / Hold / Divine / Fortune-telling.
- 占める — to occupy; to hold
- 占う — to tell fortunes; to divine
- 占領 — occupation; capture
- 独占 — monopoly; exclusive possession
- 星占い — astrology; horoscope
占 combines the radical 卜 (divination mark) with 口 (mouth). It suggests declaring aloud the results of divination. From “fortune-telling,” it extended to “occupy” or “claim.”
Think of 独占 — “monopoly; exclusive possession.” 独 is “alone,” and 占 is “to claim.” Together, they mean to hold something entirely for oneself.
Forms
占領 — occupation; capture of territory