Meaning & readings
self
On’yomi コ、キ
Kun’yomi おのれ、つちのと、な
Nanori し、み
Origin
This character is a simple picture of a coiled rope or cord, which ancient Chinese people used as a metaphor for the self—something wound up, contained, and distinct. The three curved strokes form a closed loop, suggesting something complete and self-contained. Over time, the image became abstract enough that it now represents the concept of "self" or "oneself" rather than resembling an actual rope.
AI-generated (claude-haiku-4-5), not yet reviewed. Formation type (automated guess): Pictographic or simple.
Components
This character is treated as a single, undivided shape (己).
Common words
Reference
- Strokes
- 3
- Kangxi radical
- 49
- Grade
- Grade 6 (Kyōiku)
- Frequency rank
- #1098 (newspapers)
- Former JLPT
- level 1
- Unicode
- U+05DF1