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Kotomora

君

mister, you, ruler, male name suffix

JLPTN3StatusJōyō · grade 3FrequencyTop 1,000Strokes7

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

Explore all words using 君 →

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.