遡

going upstream; retracing the past

Kanji 2051

Learn to say that a temple dates back to the 9th century and that a conflict goes back to childhood. Find out how the Japanese say that they've hiked toward the source of a river or sailed up the Sumida. (The verb changes on the return trip!) See how the Japanese have been pioneers in time travel. Also become versed in the habits of salmon and the way their lives end in a noble but tragic way.

Revision history:

Nov. 27, 2024: p. 8: Deleted the last sample sentence because the concept of a 遡上高 is far more complex than the sentence translation reflected, and explaining the issue in detail would take us too far off course.

Sept. 8, 2023: p. 9: Changed the breakdown of 遡及, defining the 及 as "reaching (an object)."

Feb. 7, 2022: 

• p. 1, Character Profile: Corrected two typos in the spelling of the Joyo kun-yomi!
• p. 2, Etymology Box: Added a Henshall etymology and updated the Sears link.
• p. 10: Added a link to the Kanshudo games.

June 19, 2015: p. 8: The first sample sentence on the page didn't feature the keyword 遡上! Now it does.

Dec. 5, 2014: p. 8: Corrected the term for "Great East Japan Earthquake" in the last sample sentence. It now says 東日本大震災 with the yomi of ひがしにほんだいしんさい.

Sept. 19, 2014: Originally published.