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Kotomora

軽

lightly, trifling, unimportant

JLPTN4StatusJōyō · grade 3FrequencyTop 1,000Strokes12

Readings

On'yomi

  • ケイ
  • キョウ
  • キン

Kun'yomi

  • かる.い
  • かろ.やか
  • かろ.んじる

Meaning

軽 centers on a lack of weight or seriousness: something physically light, trivial, or unimportant.

Most common words using 軽

23 of 184
  • 軽いかるい
    N5

    light (i.e. not heavy); feeling light (i.e. offering little resistance, moving easily)

  • 気軽きがる
    N2

    carefree; buoyant; lighthearted; sprightly

  • 軽けい
    N2

    light (e.g. aircraft, truck)

  • 軽減けいげん
    N2

    abatement; reduction

  • 手軽てがる
    N2

    easy; simple; informal; offhand; cheap

  • 軽量けいりょう

    light weight

  • 軽自動車けいじどうしゃ

    light motor vehicle (up to 660cc and 64bhp); k-car; kei car

  • 軽蔑けいべつ
    N1

    contempt; scorn; disdain; despising; looking down on; slighting

  • 軽視けいし
    N1

    making light of; thinking little of; slighting; belittling; dismissing; contempt; disdain

  • 軽率けいそつ
    N1

    rash; thoughtless; careless; hasty; imprudent

  • 軽快けいかい
    N1

    light (of movements); nimble; sprightly; springy

  • 軽傷けいしょう
    N1

    minor injury

  • 軽食けいしょく

    light meal; snack; refreshments

  • 軽やかかろやか

    light; easy; non-serious; minor

  • 軽薄けいはく
    N1

    frivolous; flippant; superficial; shallow; trifling; insincere

  • 身軽みがる
    N1

    agile; nimble; light (of foot)

  • 軽油けいゆ

    diesel oil; diesel fuel; gas oil

  • 軽々かるがる

    lightly; easily; carelessly

  • 軽音楽けいおんがく

    light music; popular music

  • 軽妙けいみょう

    light and easy; lambent; clever; witty; smart

  • 軽はずみかるはずみ
    N1

    thoughtless; rash; hasty; imprudent

  • 軽震けいしん

    weak earthquake

  • 軽工業けいこうぎょう
    N2

    light industry

Explore all words using 軽 →

Study

Etymology

軽 is the modern simplified form of 輕. The older form combines 車 (vehicle) with 巠, which likely contributed the sound and the idea of lightness. The modern right side 圣 is a simplification.

Meaning mnemonic

A vehicle 車 that is light enough to be carried by a person 圣 is truly lightweight and unimportant.

Reading mnemonic

For ケイ, imagine a light kayak (ケイ) so light that a car 車 can carry it easily.