器
Meaning in Englishbowl, vessel, container
Animated kanji stroke order
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Word context
What it means
What does 器 mean? It primarily denotes a container or vessel used to hold items, and in broader usage can refer to physical dishware or utensils; figuratively it highlights capacity, ability, or suitability in a given situation.
Main meanings
- Physical container or vessel such as bowls, dishes, jugs, or utensils used to hold items.
- Abstract capacity or potential, referring to how much someone can do or how suitable they are for a task.
- In compounds, denotes tools, equipment, or implements used to perform actions.
- Literary or philosophical nuance where 器 can imply character, temperament, or bearing in certain expressions.
How to use it
Used as a general noun for vessels and containers; in formal writing it can refer to equipment or implements; in casual speech it often denotes a dish or bowl. It appears in compounds to indicate tools, instruments, or capacities, and in literary contexts it can convey aspects of purpose or character.
Variants and close terms
- 容器 youki — container
- 器具 kigu — utensils, apparatus
- 道具 dōgu — tools
- 器量 kiryō — bearing, capacity
Etymology
Phonetic evolution 器 is a kanji whose form visually represents a vessel; its on'yomi is キ (ki) and kun'yomi is うつわ (utsuwa). In historical text, the character migrated from Chinese writing to Japanese kanji, preserving the core meaning of container while expanding to broader figurative senses in literature and speech.
Word class
Noun (名詞)