The core meaning of the kanji 撃 is "to strike," "to attack," or "to hit." It implies a forceful action aimed at causing an impact or damage. It suggests a direct and deliberate action, often with the intention of subduing or overcoming something.

・On-yomi (音読み): ゲキ ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): う（つ）

⚫︎ 攻撃（こうげき） Translation: Attack ⚫︎ 打撃（だげき） Translation: Blow, impact, shock ⚫︎ 撃退（げきたい） Translation: Repulsion, repelling

The kanji 撃 is a *形声文字* （けいせもじ - *phonetic-semantic compound*). The radical is 手 (て - hand), indicating the action of hitting or striking, and the phonetic component is 毄(geki), which provides the sound and hints at the meaning. The original form of the character shows a hand (手) in the action of striking something. This suggests the historical development of the character from a basic gesture of action into a character representing a forceful action.