Meaning & readings
utensil, vessel, receptacle, implement, instrument, ability, container, tool, set
Origin
This character appears to show a vessel or container, most likely a ritual bronze vessel used in ancient China. The character's shape suggests a container with a base and sides, though the modern form is quite stylized from the original pictograph. Over time, the meaning expanded from the specific image of a physical vessel to any utensil or tool, and eventually to the abstract sense of ability or capacity—the idea that a person can be a "vessel" or container for talent and skill.
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 (器).
Common words
Reference
- Strokes
- 15
- Kangxi radical
- 30
- Grade
- Grade 4 (Kyōiku)
- Frequency rank
- #525 (newspapers)
- Former JLPT
- level 2
- Unicode
- U+05668