斐
beautiful, patterned
Readings
On'yomi
- ヒ
- イ
Kun'yomi
—
Nanori
- あや
Meaning
斐 centers on visual elegance: something beautifully patterned or aesthetically striking.
Most common words using 斐
20 of 28- 甲斐かい
result (that makes an act worthwhile); worth (in doing something); value; effect; use; benefit; avail
- 甲斐がいN1
result (that makes an act worthwhile); worth (in doing something); value; effect; use; benefit; avail
- 遣り甲斐やりがいN2
value in doing something; feeling that something is worth doing; rewarding feeling; sense of satisfaction
- 不甲斐ないふがいない
good-for-nothing; spineless; gutless; spiritless; feckless; pluckless; cowardly; tame; timid; pathetic; pitiful; disappointing; shameful; useless; worthless
- 甲斐性かいしょう
resourcefulness; ability (esp. to earn a living); dependability; reliability
- 年甲斐としがい
one's age
- 有斐閣ゆうひかく
Yūhikaku (law book publisher)
- 甲斐甲斐しいかいがいしい
brisk and efficient; diligent; devoted; spirited
- し甲斐しがい
value in doing something; feeling that something is worth doing; rewarding feeling; sense of satisfaction
- 友達甲斐ともだちがい
true friendship
- 年甲斐も無いとしがいもない
unbecoming; unsuitable; disgraceful; wrong for one's age; unworthy of one's years; thoughtless for one's age
- 恋の骨折り甲斐こいのほねおりがい
Love's Labour's Won (Shakespeare)
- 斐然ひぜん
beautiful; florid
- 斐紙ひし
traditional Japanese paper made from the fibre of plant species Diplomorpha sikokiana (high quality, glossy)
- 甲斐かい
Kai (former province located in present-day Yamanashi Prefecture)
- 甲斐あってかいあって
thanks to; because of ... (something positive happened); it was worth ... (because); it paid off
- 甲斐があるかいがある
to be effective; to be fruitful; to be worthwhile; to be worth; to be rewarded; to pay off
- 甲斐がないかいがない
useless; in vain
- 甲斐なしかいなし
worthlessness; uselessness; hopelessness
- 甲斐性なしかいしょうなし
being good-for-nothing; useless person
Study
Etymology
斐 combines 非 (a pair of wings or opposing forms) with 文 (pattern, writing), suggesting a decorative or patterned appearance. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the component combination likely expresses beauty through visual design.
Meaning mnemonic
The top 非 looks like a pair of decorative wings, and the bottom 文 means pattern or design. Together they create a beautifully patterned image.
Reading mnemonic
For ヒ, imagine a beautiful patterned fabric that makes you say 'hee' in admiration: hee -> ヒ.