冒
risk, face, defy, dare, damage, assume (a name)
Readings
On'yomi
- ボウ
Kun'yomi
- おか.す
Meaning
冒 centers on pushing forward into something despite danger or opposition: risking harm, facing a challenge, daring to act, or defying a barrier. The sense of assuming a name extends this idea of taking on something boldly.
Most common words using 冒
20 of 28- 冒険ぼうけんN3
adventure; venture
- 冒頭ぼうとうN1
beginning; opening; start; outset
- 冒すおかすN1
to brave; to risk; to face; to venture
- 冒涜ぼうとく
blasphemy; profanity; sacrilege; desecration; defilement
- 感冒かんぼう
(common) cold
- シャーロックホームズの冒険シャーロックホームズのぼうけん
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1892 collection of short stories by Arthur Conan Doyle)
- ジョジョの奇妙な冒険ジョジョのきみょうなぼうけん
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure (manga and media franchise)
- ハックルベリーフィンの冒険ハックルベリーフィンのぼうけん
(The) Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884 novel by Mark Twain)
- ホビットの冒険ホビットのぼうけん
The Hobbit, or There and Back Again (1937 novel by J.R.R. Tolkien)
- 冒涜的ぼうとくてき
blasphemous; profane; sacrilegious
- 冒険団ぼうけんだん
team of adventurers; group of adventurers
- 冒険家ぼうけんか
adventurer
- 冒険小説ぼうけんしょうせつ
adventure story; novel of adventure
- 冒険心ぼうけんしん
adventurous spirit; sense of adventure
- 冒険旅行ぼうけんりょこう
adventure travel; adventurous trip
- 冒険的ぼうけんてき
adventurous; risky; hazardous; perilous
- 冒険者ぼうけんしゃ
adventurer
- 冒険談ぼうけんだん
tale of adventure
- 冒険資本ぼうけんしほん
venture capital
- 冒険野郎ぼうけんやろう
adventure lover
Study
Etymology
冒 combines ⺜ (a covering or cap) with 目 (eye), originally suggesting something covering the eyes or advancing blindly into risk. The modern form preserves this visual structure.
Meaning mnemonic
The top ⺜ looks like a hood or blindfold pulled down over the eye 目. Picture someone covering their eyes and still daring to step forward into danger.
Reading mnemonic
For ボウ, imagine a bold bow-tied adventurer covering one eye and risking a daring leap: bow -> ボウ, and the blindfolded risk matches the kanji's meaning.