Han character 輒

In classical Chinese, 輒 can mean “at once,” “each time,” or “without permission.” Depending on its sentence, it can mark an immediate result, a repeated pattern, or an action taken without permission.

A Shuihudi Qin-slip form, dated around 217 BCE, is the earliest surviving specimen of 輒. It names a projecting side panel on a chariot, sometimes called a “chariot ear.” A later dictionary explanation links the “without permission” sense to someone leaning on that panel.

In 動輒得咎, 輒 frames blame as something that happens at every turn. In 飲少輒醉, even a little drink leads straight to drunkenness. These are literary Chinese expressions.

Why does 輒 look different in Chinese and Japanese text?

Regional fonts can draw the same encoded character differently. Chinese, Japanese, and Korean typefaces may follow different regional glyph conventions. A change in stroke shape alone does not mean the text uses another character.

輙 is an alternative written form of 輒, while 辄 is its simplified Chinese form. Japanese references mark 輒 as outside the standard-use kanji list. They record senses such as “promptly” and “easily,” along with the readings すなわち (“that is”) and わきぎ (the chariot side panel).