哥
big brother
Readings
On'yomi
- カ
- コ
Kun'yomi
- あに
- うた
Meaning
哥 centers on the idea of an older male sibling: a big brother. It is a less common variant of 兄, used in some names and compounds.
Most common words using 哥
- インド八哥インドはっか
common myna (Acridotheres tristis); Indian myna; common mynah; Indian mynah
- 八哥鳥はっかちょう
crested myna (Acridotheres cristatellus); crested mynah
- 哥老会かろうかい
Gelaohui (secret Chinese society of the late Qing dynasty)
- 紅金剛鸚哥べにこんごういんこ
green-winged macaw (Ara chloropterus); red-and-green macaw; scarlet macaw
- 輪掛本青鸚哥わかけほんせいいんこ
Indian rose-ringed parakeet (Psittacula krameri manillensis); ring-necked parakeet
Study
Etymology
哥 is a duplication of 可, likely used as a phonetic loan or variant for 'elder brother.' The exact historical development is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
Two 可 stacked like two brothers: the top one is the big brother watching over the younger one below.
Reading mnemonic
For カ, imagine a big brother driving a car: car -> カ, and he's taking his younger sibling for a ride.