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Bundle 21: Do or Die

Tenacity binds these essays together, sometimes as the secondary sense of characters. The literal stickiness of 粘 (e.g., natto, clay, and snail mucus!) inspired the figurative meaning "tenacity," as in "stick-to-it-ness." Mainly, 執 involves performing tasks (often by wielding long, thin objects such as pens or batons), but as "tenacity" this kanji drives words about persistence, obsession, and grudges. The whole bundle showcases adherence to beliefs and goals, doing things thoroughly, and seeing things through (e.g., athletes who accomplish greatness). These essays also depict the dark side of such devotion—namely, obstinacy, self-centeredness, discord, monomania, ill health, and more.
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執
hold on to
JOK: 1332
With the take-charge kanji 執, you can conduct orchestras, manage corporations, perform surgery, and command armies. Passions run hot with 執, which drives words for "antagonism," "obsession," and "stubborn," appearing in sentences that mean "That team won through tenacity rather than technique," "He still sticks to his opinion," and "He clung to the hope that he could be a lawyer.”
遂
accomplish
JOK: 1458
Journey to the dark side with terms for attempted crimes, learning to say, “He is accused of attempted robbery.” Then move to the sunny side with positive keywords about achieving things. Sample sentences include, “Come what may, I am determined to accomplish it,” “I will do it at all costs,” “He is equal to the task,” and “He persisted in accomplishing his original plan.”
徹
go through
JOK: 1629
This tenacious kanji takes you through from start to finish, enabling you to say, "I have to work all night" and "do-or-die resistance." Also learn to say, "I recommend a thorough checkup," "If you learn English, study it thoroughly," and "You're a complete misanthrope. In addition, discover the Japanese for "Why don't you stick to what you've set out to do?" and "obstinacy of old age."
粘
sticky
JOK: 1679
Knowing this kanji enables us to talk about sticky substances (from natto and rice to Post-It notes) and about a stick-to-it attitude in life, in sports, and in business. Learn to say, "You hung in there very well, but I won." Find out which term for "tenacious" is positive (i.e., persevering) and which is negative (i.e., persistent). Also learn terms related to clay, adhesion, viscosity, and more.
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