字 Kanji Decipher

Meaning & readings

question, ask, problem

On’yomi モン
Kun’yomi と.う、と.い、とん
Nanori はる

Origin

This character combines a sound hint with a meaning component. The left side, 門 (gate), provides a rough pronunciation guide—it sounds like "mon." The right side, 口 (mouth), represents the concept of speech or communication. Together, the character visually suggests asking or questioning: using your mouth to speak through a gate, or directing speech toward someone. The shape essentially captures the idea of communication and inquiry combined with its pronunciation cue.

問 11 strokes

Components

  • 門 sound hint enclosure
  • 口 radical

A sound hint component points at the character’s pronunciation, not its meaning — don’t read a meaning into it.

Common words

  • 慰問 いもん visit to console someone; giving comfort (to the sick, injured, etc.)
  • 学問 がくもん study; scholarship
  • 喚問 かんもん summons
  • 疑問 ぎもん doubt; question
  • 詰問 きつもん cross-examination; close questioning
  • 検問 けんもん inspection; examination
  • 顧問 こもん adviser; advisor
  • 拷問 ごうもん torture

Related kanji

Same sound component 門
Same radical

Reference

Strokes
11
Kangxi radical
30
Formation type
Phono-semantic (meaning + sound hint)
Grade
Grade 3 (Kyōiku)
Frequency rank
#64 (newspapers)
Former JLPT
level 3
Unicode
U+0554F