京
capital, 10**16
Readings
On'yomi
- キョウ
- ケイ
- キン
Kun'yomi
- みやこ
Nanori
- たか
Meaning
京 centers on a grand central place: a capital city. The large-number sense (10^16) is a separate, specialized use that does not connect to the capital idea.
Most common words using 京
20 of 379- 東京とうきょうN5
Tokyo
- 京都きょうとN5
Kyoto (city, prefecture)
- 京きょう
imperial capital (esp. Kyoto)
- 北京ペキン
Beijing (China); Peking
- 東京ドームとうきょうドーム
Tokyo Dome
- 上京じょうきょうN3
going (up) to the capital; going to Tokyo
- 南京なんきょう
Nara
- 南京ナンキン
Nanjing (China); Nanking
- 東京大学とうきょうだいがく
University of Tokyo
- 東京電力とうきょうでんりょく
Tokyo Electric Power
- テレビ東京テレビとうきょう
TV Tokyo
- 京大きょうだい
Kyoto University (abbr)
- 中京ちゅうきょう
Nagoya (city)
- 京セラきょうセラ
Kyocera
- 京阪けいはん
Kyoto and Osaka; Kyoto-Osaka area
- 京成けいせい
Keisei (train line Tokyo-Narita)
- 埼京線さいきょうせん
Saikyō Line (railway line running from Tokyo to Saitama)
- 京葉けいよう
Tokyo and Chiba
- 西京さいきょう
western capital; Kyoto
- 南京錠ナンキンじょう
padlock
Study
Etymology
京 originally depicted a tall building or watchtower on a hill, representing a capital or large settlement. The modern form retains the top 亠 (roof) and the lower 口 and 小 as stylized remnants of the structure.
Meaning mnemonic
Picture a tall watchtower with a roof (亠) over a walled enclosure (口) and a small gate (小) below—this is the grand capital.
Reading mnemonic
For キョウ, imagine the capital city of Kyoto (京都, きょうと): Kyoto -> キョウ, the heart of the capital.