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Kotomora

献

offering, counter for drinks, present, offer

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 1,000Strokes13

Readings

On'yomi

  • ケン
  • コン

Kun'yomi

  • たてまつ.る

Meaning

献 centers on formally giving something to a higher person or cause: presenting an offering, dedicating a gift, or serving a drink. The counter-for-drinks sense is a specific application of offering a drink to someone.

Most common words using 献

20 of 72
  • 貢献こうけん
    N3

    contribution (furthering a goal or cause); services (to a cause)

  • 文献ぶんけん
    N2

    literature; books (reference); document

  • 献身けんしん

    devotion; dedication; self-sacrifice

  • 献血けんけつ
    N1

    blood donation

  • 献金けんきん

    donation; contribution; offering

  • 献上けんじょう

    presenting (to)

  • 献立こんだて
    N2

    menu; bill of fare

  • 献花けんか

    flower offering; floral tribute; laying flowers

  • 献体けんたい

    body donation

  • 奉献ほうけん

    dedication; presentation; consecration; offer (to a shrine)

  • 献本けんぽん

    complimentary copy of a book

  • 一献いっこん

    one cup (of sake)

  • 献呈けんてい

    presentation; dedication

  • 献身的けんしんてき

    devoted; self-sacrificing

  • 参考文献さんこうぶんけん
    N2

    works cited; references

  • ヤミ献金ヤミけんきん

    illegal donation; secret contribution

  • 一次文献いちじぶんけん

    primary document

  • 三献さんこん

    three-times-three exchange of nuptial cups

  • 九献くこん

    three-times-three exchange of nuptial cups

  • 二次文献にじぶんけん

    secondary document

Explore all words using 献 →

Study

Etymology

献 is the modern simplified form of 獻. The older form combines 鬳 (a vessel) with 犬 (dog), suggesting a sacrificial offering of a dog in a vessel. The modern form replaces the left side with 南, which is a simplification.

Meaning mnemonic

The left side 南 can be thought of as a ceremonial stand, and the right side 犬 is a dog. Imagine presenting a dog on a stand as a formal offering.

Reading mnemonic

For ケン, picture Ken offering a drink to his guest: Ken -> ケン, and he presents it with both hands.