君
mister, you, ruler, male name suffix
Readings
On'yomi
- クン
Kun'yomi
- きみ
- -ぎみ
Nanori
- み
Meaning
君 centers on a person of respect or address: a ruler, a formal 'you,' or a polite suffix for male names. The core idea is a figure with some authority or familiarity.
Most common words using 君
20 of 115- 君きみN4
you; buddy; pal
- 君くんN4
Mr; master; boy
- 諸君しょくんN1
you (people)
- 君たちきみたち
you (plural); all of you; you all
- 君主くんしゅN1
monarch; sovereign; ruler; liege (lord)
- 君臨くんりん
reigning (over a country)
- 君が代きみがよ
Imperial reign
- 主君しゅくん
lord; master
- 暴君ぼうくん
tyrant; despot
- 姫君ひめぎみ
daughter of a person of high rank (esp. eldest daughter)
- 君子くんし
man of virtue; wise man; (true) gentleman
- 貴君きくん
you (primarily used by men in letters to their equals or inferiors)
- 人君じんくん
sovereign; ruler
- 名君めいくん
wise ruler; enlightened monarch; benevolent lord
- 細君さいくん
(one's) wife
- 大君おおきみ
emperor
- 大君たいくん
monarch
- 若君わかぎみ
young lord or prince
- 夫君ふくん
(another's) husband
- 父君ふくん
father
Study
Etymology
君 combines 尹 (a hand holding a staff, suggesting authority) with 口 (mouth, here indicating command or speech). Together they represent a ruler or lord who issues commands.
Meaning mnemonic
The top part 尹 looks like a hand holding a staff of authority, and the bottom 口 is a mouth giving orders. Picture a ruler speaking commands: 君 is the person in charge.
Reading mnemonic
For クン, imagine a ruler named Kun giving orders: Kun -> クン, and his mouth 口 speaks with authority.