字 Kanji Decipher

Meaning & readings

complete, finish

On’yomi リョウ
Nanori さとる

Origin

This character appears to be a simple pictograph showing something complete or finished. The two strokes form a shape resembling a closed or completed form, like a knot tied at the end of a thread or a sealed container. Over time, this visual idea of something being closed off or brought to an end became associated with the meaning "complete" or "finish." The simplicity of the character — just two strokes — reflects its ancient origins as a direct picture rather than a complex combination of parts.

了 2 strokes

Components

This character is treated as a single, undivided shape (了).

  • 了 meaning part

Common words

  • 完了 かんりょう completion; conclusion
  • 修了 しゅうりょう completion (of a course)
  • 終了 しゅうりょう end; close
  • 満了 まんりょう expiration; termination
  • 魅了 みりょう charm; fascination
  • 了解 りょうかい comprehension; consent
  • 了承 りょうしょう acknowledgement; acknowledgment
  • 終了後 しゅうりょうご after the end (of something)

Related kanji

Same radical

Easily confused with

These look alike but are unrelated in meaning — check the stroke that differs.

Reference

Strokes
2
Kangxi radical
6
Formation type
Pictographic or simple
Grade
Jōyō (secondary school)
Frequency rank
#792 (newspapers)
Former JLPT
level 2
Unicode
U+04E86