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Kotomora

候

climate, season, weather, wait for, expect

JLPTN3StatusJōyō · grade 4FrequencyTop 1,000Strokes10

Readings

On'yomi

  • コウ

Kun'yomi

  • そうろう

Meaning

候 centers on observing and responding to natural cycles or signs: climate, season, and weather are patterns you watch for, while waiting and expecting are the human side of watching for something to happen.

Most common words using 候

20 of 251
  • 候補こうほ
    N3

    candidate; contender; prospect; pick; choice; list

  • 症候群しょうこうぐん

    syndrome

  • 気候きこう
    N3

    climate

  • 立候補りっこうほ
    N1

    candidacy; standing as a candidate; bidding (to host an event, e.g. the Olympics)

  • 天候てんこう
    N3

    weather

  • 候こう

    season; weather

  • 候そろ

    to be

  • 兆候ちょうこう
    N1

    sign; indication; omen; symptom

  • 悪天候あくてんこう

    bad weather

  • 居候いそうろう

    lodger who pays nothing for room and board; freeloader; sponger

  • 立候補者りっこうほしゃ

    candidate (for an election)

  • 斥候せっこう

    scout; patrol; spy

  • 候へそえ

    please ...; please do ...

  • 測候所そっこうじょ

    weather measurement station

  • 症候しょうこう

    symptom

  • 全天候ぜんてんこう

    all-weather; weather-proof

  • 宜候ようそろ

    keep (it) steady (after a turn)

  • 又候またぞろ

    (yet) again

  • 時候じこう

    season; time of the year

  • 測候そっこう

    meteorological observation

Explore all words using 候 →

Study

Etymology

候 is thought to combine 亻 (person) with a phonetic element that also suggests watching or observing. The modern form is closely related to 侯, with an added stroke distinguishing it.

Meaning mnemonic

A person 亻 standing with a vertical marker 丨, like someone watching a sundial or weather vane to track the season and know when to expect change.

Reading mnemonic

For コウ, imagine a person waiting for the changing seasons while holding a coat: coat -> コウ, because you need a coat when the weather shifts.