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Kotomora

個

individual, counter for articles

JLPTN2StatusJōyō · grade 5FrequencyTop 500Strokes10

Readings

On'yomi

  • コ
  • カ

Kun'yomi

—

Meaning

個 centers on a single, separate unit: an individual person or thing, and by extension a counter for articles or items.

Most common words using 個

20 of 155
  • 個人こじん
    N3

    individual; private person; personal; private

  • 個こ
    N5

    counter for (small) things or pieces

  • 個別こべつ
    N1

    individual; separate; personal; case-by-case

  • 個性こせい
    N2

    individuality; personality; quirk; idiosyncrasy; character; individual characteristic

  • 個体こたい
    N2

    individual; specimen

  • 個室こしつ

    single (room); room for one; one's own room; private room; private compartment

  • 個々ここ
    N1

    individual; one by one; separate; each

  • 個展こてん
    N1

    solo exhibition; one-man exhibition; one-woman exhibition

  • 個数こすう
    N3

    number of articles; number of items; quantity

  • 個々人ここじん

    each individual; each person

  • 別個べっこ
    N1

    another; different; separate; discrete

  • 数個すうこ

    several (objects, usu. from two to six)

  • 一個人いっこじん

    private person; individual

  • 各個かっこ

    every one; each

  • 複数個ふくすうこ

    multitude

  • 個人技こじんぎ

    individual technique (in team sports); individual skills; individual play

  • 二個一にこいち

    combining the working parts of two or more broken machines to make one functioning machine

  • 個人的こじんてき
    N3

    personal; individual; private

  • 一個いっこ
    N5

    one (thing); one piece; one item

  • 個人差こじんさ

    individual differences; personal equation

Explore all words using 個 →

Study

Etymology

個 combines 亻 (person) with 固, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of something solid or fixed, suggesting a distinct individual entity.

Meaning mnemonic

A person 亻 standing beside something solid and fixed 固: each person is an individual, and each solid thing can be counted as one article.

Reading mnemonic

For コ, imagine counting individual items by saying 'co-co-co' like a gentle knock on each one: co -> コ, and each knock marks one individual article.