The kanji 嫡 primarily conveys the meaning of "legitimate" or "eldest son/heir." It signifies the rightful heir, the one who inherits a title, property, or position. It implies a legal or established right of succession.

・On-yomi (音読み): テキ (teki) ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): ちゃく (chaku)

⚫︎ 嫡子 (chakushi) Translation: legitimate son; heir. ⚫︎ 嫡流 (chakuryuu) Translation: legitimate line; direct line (of succession). ⚫︎ 嫡出 (chakushutsu) Translation: legitimate; born in wedlock.

The kanji 嫡 is a phono-semantic compound (形声文字, keisei moji). It is formed by the semantic component 女 (onna, "woman") on the left, and the phonetic component 啇 (teki) on the right. 啇 contributes the sound and hints at a related meaning. The inclusion of 女 indicates that the kanji has something to do with lineage or being related to a woman.