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Kotomora

欧

Europe

JLPTN2StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 500Strokes8

Readings

On'yomi

  • オウ

Kun'yomi

  • うた.う
  • は.く

Nanori

  • おお
  • ひろ

Meaning

欧 centers on the idea of Europe, used in compounds for European things. The older meaning of 'vomit' or 'cough up' is rare in modern Japanese.

Most common words using 欧

20 of 118
  • 欧州おうしゅう

    Europe

  • 欧米おうべい
    N3

    Europe and the United States; Europe and America; the West

  • 北欧ほくおう
    N3

    Northern Europe; Nordic countries; Scandinavia

  • 西欧せいおう
    N3

    Western Europe

  • 東欧とうおう
    N3

    Eastern Europe

  • 欧おう

    Europe

  • 南欧なんおう
    N3

    Southern Europe

  • 欧文おうぶん

    writing in a European language; European text; Roman letters

  • 欧風おうふう

    European-style; Western; Occidental

  • 中欧ちゅうおう

    Central Europe

  • 訪欧ほうおう

    visit to Europe; visiting Europe

  • 渡欧とおう

    going to Europe; trip to Europe

  • 欧州連合おうしゅうれんごう
    N2

    European Union; EU

  • ロシア東欧貿易会ロシアとうおうぼうえきかい

    Japan Association for Trade with Russia & Central-Eastern Europe (ROTOBO)

  • 中東欧ちゅうとうおう

    Central and Eastern Europe

  • 亜欧あおう

    Asia and Europe; Eurasia

  • 全欧ぜんおう

    all Europe

  • 北欧デザインほくおうデザイン

    Scandinavian design

  • 北欧人ほくおうじん

    Nordic person; Scandinavian; Northern European

  • 北欧会議ほくおうかいぎ

    Nordic Council

Explore all words using 欧 →

Study

Etymology

欧 originally combined 区 (a container) with 欠 (a person with an open mouth), suggesting vomiting or coughing up. In modern Japanese it is used almost exclusively as a phonetic abbreviation for Europe.

Meaning mnemonic

The left side 区 looks like a map of Europe with its distinct borders, and the right side 欠 looks like a person opening their mouth in awe at the continent's wonders.

Reading mnemonic

For オウ, imagine a European person saying 'Oh!' in surprise: Oh -> オウ, as they discover the beauty of Europe.