Meaning & readings
equilibrium, measuring rod, scale
On’yomi コウ
Nanori ひら
Origin
This character pictures a measuring scale or balance beam. The two instances of 行 (which sounds like "kou") frame the character and provide a sound hint for its pronunciation, while the central component represents the object being measured or weighed. The overall shape suggests a horizontal beam with supports on both sides, which is exactly what you'd need to check if things are in equilibrium. Over time, the visual image of a balanced measuring device became the word for equilibrium and the concept of balance itself.
Common words
Reference
- Strokes
- 16
- Kangxi radical
- 144
- Formation type
- Phono-semantic (meaning + sound hint)
- Grade
- Jōyō (secondary school)
- Frequency rank
- #1847 (newspapers)
- Former JLPT
- level 1
- Unicode
- U+08861