Meaning
To finish, settle, relieve, or save. Often used in economic or religious contexts.
- 済む — to be settled, to end
- 済ます — to finish, to get through
- 救済 — relief, aid
- 経済 — economy
- 返済 — repayment
- 弁済 — indemnification
済 is closely related to resolving matters, whether financial, religious, or social. It appears in words like 経済 (economy) and 済度 (spiritual salvation), showing how "completion" or "helping through" is central to the character’s meaning.
仕事が 無事に 済みました。
The work finished safely.
返済は 来週までに お願いします。
Please repay it by next week.
This kanji has both on-yomi (サイ / セイ) and kun-yomi (すむ / すます). It appears frequently in daily life and economics. The kunyomi are often used in everyday conversations, while onyomi appear in compound nouns.