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Kotomora

仮

sham, temporary, interim, assumed (name), informal

JLPTN2StatusJōyō · grade 5FrequencyTop 2,000Strokes6

Readings

On'yomi

  • カ
  • ケ

Kun'yomi

  • かり
  • かり-

Meaning

仮 centers on something that is not the real or permanent version: a temporary stand-in, an assumed name, or an informal arrangement. The idea of 'sham' follows naturally from something being a substitute rather than genuine.

Most common words using 仮

20 of 313
  • 仮令たとえ
    N2

    even if; no matter (what); if; though; although; supposing; supposing that; -ever

  • 仮面かめん
    N1

    mask

  • 仮かり
    N1

    temporary; provisional; interim; tentative

  • 仮想かそう

    imagination; supposition; virtual; potential (enemy)

  • 仮にかりに
    N1

    supposing; even if; granting that; for argument's sake

  • 仮面ライダーかめんライダー

    Kamen Rider (TV series, the titular character)

  • 仮説かせつ
    N1

    hypothesis; supposition; assumption; tentative theory

  • 仮定かてい
    N2

    assumption; supposition; hypothesis

  • 仮名かな
    N2

    kana; Japanese syllabaries (i.e. hiragana and katakana)

  • 仮装かそう

    costume; fancy dress; masquerade; disguise

  • 片仮名かたかな
    N4

    katakana; angular Japanese syllabary used primarily for loanwords

  • 仮設かせつ

    temporary construction; temporary establishment; provisional construction

  • 仮名かめい

    alias; pseudonym; pen name; nom de plume

  • 仮眠かみん

    nap; doze

  • 平仮名ひらがな
    N4

    hiragana; cursive Japanese syllabary used primarily for native Japanese words (esp. function words, inflections, etc.)

  • 仮称かしょう

    temporary name; provisional name

  • 仮処分かりしょぶん

    provisional disposition; temporary injunction

  • 仮性かせい

    false (symptoms)

  • 仮釈放かりしゃくほう

    releasing on parole; conditional release

  • 仮病けびょう

    feigned illness

Explore all words using 仮 →

Study

Etymology

仮 is the modern simplified form of 假. The older form combines 亻 (person) with a phonetic component that also carried the idea of borrowing or not being genuine. The modern 反 shape is a simplification and should not be treated as the original historical component.

Meaning mnemonic

A person 亻 beside 反 (which looks like a hand turning something over) suggests someone flipping roles temporarily: a stand-in or an assumed identity.

Reading mnemonic

For カ, imagine a temporary cardboard cutout of a person: 'card' -> カ, and it's just a sham stand-in.