個
individual, counter for articles
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
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.