noun
historical time period; two-hour zodiac hour
Historical timekeeping term: one 刻 was typically about two modern hours and was associated with the twelve zodiac signs, as in 子の刻 or 丑の刻. Commonly encountered in historical writing, period drama, and set expressions rather than modern scheduling.
丑の刻に、城の門が閉められた。
At the hour of the Ox, the castle gate was closed.
子の刻は、現在の午前零時ごろに当たる。
The hour of the Rat corresponds to around midnight today.
noun
carving; engraving; cutting finely
Only when written 刻
Used mainly as a kanji or bound Sino-Japanese element for cutting, carving, or engraving. The English gloss also covers the related idea of cutting into small pieces, seen more naturally in forms such as 刻む.
「彫刻」や「篆刻」の刻は、彫ることを表す。
The 刻 in words such as 彫刻 and 篆刻 expresses carving or engraving.
料理で野菜を細かく切る「
noun
Only when written 剋
Rare as an independent noun. The spelling 剋 is mainly seen in compounds with the sense of defeating, overcoming, or prevailing over someone or something.
「下剋上」の剋は、下の者が上の者に打ち勝つことを表す。
The 剋 in 下剋上 expresses someone lower in rank overcoming someone above them.
noun
A limited and old-fashioned morphemic use meaning harsh, severe, or cruel. It is more safely understood through compounds such as 刻薄 than as a freely used modern standalone noun.
「刻薄」の刻は、情け容赦がなく厳しいという意味で使われる。
The 刻 in 刻薄 is used with the meaning of being mercilessly harsh.
The verb 刻む, used for finely cutting vegetables in cooking, also belongs to this meaning of 刻.
General modern word for time or an occasion; 刻 in the time-period sense is historical and often tied to old zodiac-based timekeeping.
A common verb meaning to carve, engrave, chop finely, or mark time; it uses the same kanji 刻 but a different native-style reading and is much more productive in ordinary sentences.
Verb meaning to overcome or prevail over; it overlaps with the 剋 sense but is a verb and is more transparent for modern learners.
こく is the Sino-Japanese reading associated with the kanji 刻 and 剋. It functions largely through historical terms and kanji-based compound elements; no precise historical derivation is asserted here.