径
diameter, path, method
Readings
On'yomi
- ケイ
Kun'yomi
- みち
- こみち
- さしわたし
- ただちに
Meaning
径 centers on a direct, narrow route: a path or shortcut, and by extension the straight-line distance across a circle (diameter). The method sense follows from a direct way of doing something.
Most common words using 径
20 of 54- 直径ちょっけいN2
diameter
- 口径こうけい
aperture; bore; calibre; caliber
- 半径はんけいN2
radius
- 径けい
diameter
- 内径ないけい
bore; inside diameter
- 小径しょうけい
path; lane
- 鼠径そけい
groin; inguinal region
- 長径ちょうけい
major axis
- イオン半径イオンはんけい
ionic radius
- クラッド径クラッドけい
clad(ding) diameter
- コア径コアけい
core diameter (of a fiber)
- シュヴァルツシルト半径シュヴァルツシルトはんけい
Schwarzschild radius
- ボーア半径ボーアはんけい
Bohr radius
- 共役直径対きょうえきちょっけいたい
conjugate diameter pair; CDP
- 共有結合半径きょうゆうけつごうはんけい
covalent radius
- 動径どうけい
radius vector
- 半長径はんちょうけい
semi-major axis
- 口径比こうけいひ
aperture ratio (inverse of the f-number); relative aperture
- 口径食こうけいしょく
vignetting
- 回転半径かいてんはんけい
radius of gyration
Study
Etymology
径 is the modern simplified form of 徑. The older form combines 彳 (step, go) with 巠, which likely contributed the sound and the idea of a direct path or water channel. The modern right side 圣 is a simplification.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side 彳 suggests movement, and the right side 圣 looks like a straight line with a cross mark. Picture a direct path marked by a cross, leading straight to the destination—a shortcut or diameter.
Reading mnemonic
For ケイ, imagine walking a narrow path and coming to a gate shaped like the letter K: K -> ケイ, and the path leads straight through.