Meaning
To reach, to arrive at, to culminate. Often used in compound words indicating extremity, finality, or completion.
- 至福 — supreme bliss
- 至急 — urgent, immediate
- 夏至 — summer solstice
- 冬至 — winter solstice
- 必至 — inevitable
The kanji 至 shows an arrow (⽮) landing precisely at a point, expressing the idea of “arriving” or “culminating.” It is used in words that reflect arrival, achievement, extremity, or finality. It’s a 5th-grade 教育漢字 and part of many idiomatic expressions in Japanese.
夏至は 一年で 最も 昼が 長い 日です。
The summer solstice is the longest day of the year.
至福の 時を 過ごした。
I spent a moment of supreme bliss.
The kun-yomi いたる is used in standalone or descriptive phrases. The on-yomi シ is widely used in compounds, especially in abstract or advanced vocabulary related to reaching a state or degree (e.g., extreme happiness or urgency).