The kanji 卒 primarily conveys the idea of "to graduate," "to finish," or "to end." It also carries the meaning of "suddenly" or "unexpectedly," often related to a quick completion or cessation. It suggests a conclusion, whether it be the end of a process, a life, or an action.

・On-yomi (音読み): ソツ (sotsu) ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): お（わる） (owaru) - to end, finish

⚫︎卒業（そつぎょう） Translation: graduation ⚫︎突然（とつぜん） Translation: suddenly, abruptly ⚫︎戦死（せんし） Translation: death in battle (literally: "battle + 卒")

The kanji 卒 is a pictograph. It originally depicted a soldier's head. Over time, the meaning evolved to represent the end of a soldier's life, or the end of a battle. This led to its broader meaning of "to end" or "to finish". The evolution of the shape can be traced back to ancient inscriptions showing the image becoming more stylized into its modern form.