襲う

• Reading: おそう
• Romaji: osou
• Kanji breakdown: 襲 (shū/oso) — attack, assail, succeed to
• Pronunciation: /o.so.ɯ/

Meaning

To attack; to assail; to strike. Used for physical attacks and for abstract forces like disasters or emotions.

A Group 1 (godan) transitive verb meaning to make a sudden, often violent attack. Used not only for physical assaults by people or animals but also for natural disasters, illnesses, and overwhelming emotions that strike someone. The passive form 襲われる (to be attacked by) is extremely common. Appears frequently in news and dramatic contexts.

Examples

1. 山でクマに襲われる事故が増えている。 Incidents of bear attacks in the mountains are on the rise.
2. 突然激しい眠気が襲ってきた。 A sudden wave of intense drowsiness came over me.
3. 大地震がその町を襲ったのは深夜だった。 It was the middle of the night when the major earthquake struck the town.

Usage Guide

Context: news, natural disasters, crime

Tone: alarming

Origin & History

The kanji 襲 is complex, containing 龍 (dragon) at its base with 衣 (clothing) elements, originally meaning to layer clothing — which evolved to mean 'to come upon suddenly,' as one layer descends upon another.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal