芸
technique, art, craft, performance, acting, trick, stunt
Readings
On'yomi
- ゲイ
- ウン
Kun'yomi
- う.える
- のり
- わざ
Nanori
- き
- げ
- なり
Meaning
芸 centers on skilled human activity that is practiced and performed: a technique, art, craft, or performance. The trick and stunt senses are extensions of practiced skill used to entertain or deceive.
Most common words using 芸
20 of 274- 芸術げいじゅつN3
art; the arts
- 芸能げいのうN2
public entertainment; performing arts
- 芸人げいにん
(TV) comedian
- 芸能人げいのうじんN1
entertainer; performer; celebrity; entertainment personality
- 芸げいN1
art; craft; accomplishment; artistic skill; technique; performance
- 工芸こうげいN2
industrial arts; craft
- 文芸ぶんげいN2
literature
- 園芸えんげいN2
horticulture; gardening
- 学芸がくげいN1
arts and sciences; liberal arts
- 安芸あき
Aki (former province located in the west of present-day Hiroshima Prefecture)
- 陶芸とうげいN1
ceramic art; ceramics
- 手芸しゅげいN1
handicrafts
- 曲芸きょくげい
acrobatics
- 芸名げいめい
stage name
- 芸者げいしゃ
geisha; professional female entertainer, usu. at traditional banquets
- 芸風げいふう
performing style; acting style
- 大道芸だいどうげい
street performance
- 民芸みんげい
folk craft; folk art
- 演芸えんげい
entertainment; performance
- 芸当げいとう
performance; trick; feat; stunt
Study
Etymology
芸 is the modern simplified form of 藝. The older form 藝 combines 埶 (planting, skill) with 云, which likely contributed sound. The modern 芸 retains the grass crown 艹 and the sound component 云, but the historical connection to planting and skill is clearer in the older form.
Meaning mnemonic
The grass crown 艹 sits above 云, like a performer's hat over a stage. Picture an actor wearing a leafy crown, performing a practiced trick or stunt on stage.
Reading mnemonic
For ゲイ, imagine a performer in a leafy crown doing a trick and saying 'Gay!' as a flourish: Gay -> ゲイ, and the artful performance gets a laugh.