Meaning & readings
can, passable, approval
On’yomi カ、コク
Kun’yomi -べ.き、-べ.し
Nanori よし
Origin
This character most likely combines the idea of a mouth or opening (口) with components suggesting something fitting or appropriate into that space. The 丁 elements on the sides may represent things being aligned or positioned correctly. When something can fit properly into an opening or sits in the right position, it conveys the sense of being passable or acceptable — hence the meanings of approval and capability. The character's structure suggests something that works, fits, or passes muster.
Common words
Easily confused with
These look alike but are unrelated in meaning — check the stroke that differs.
Reference
- Strokes
- 5
- Kangxi radical
- 30
- Formation type
- Compound ideographic (combined meanings)
- Grade
- Grade 5 (Kyōiku)
- Frequency rank
- #314 (newspapers)
- Former JLPT
- level 2
- Unicode
- U+053EF