Meaning & readings

agreement, consent, comply with

On’yomi コウ
Kun’yomi がえんじ.る

Origin

The character combines two meanings to express agreement. The top part, 止, originally depicted a foot or a stopping point, suggesting the idea of pausing or affirming something with conviction. The bottom part, 月, refers to the body or flesh. Together, these components suggest someone stopping in their tracks and affirming something with their whole being — the physical act of nodding or standing firm in agreement. This visual logic made the character suitable for expressing consent and compliance.

肯 8 strokes

Components

  • 止 radical top
  • 月 radical bottom

Common words

  • 肯定 こうてい affirmation

Reference

Strokes
8
Kangxi radical
130
Formation type
Compound ideographic (combined meanings)
Grade
Jōyō (secondary school)
Frequency rank
#1813 (newspapers)
Former JLPT
level 2
Unicode
U+080AF