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Kotomora

倹

frugal, economy, thrifty

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 5,000Strokes10

Readings

On'yomi

  • ケン

Kun'yomi

  • つま.しい
  • つづまやか

Meaning

倹 centers on careful, restrained use of resources: being frugal, economical, or thrifty with money and goods.

Most common words using 倹

  • 倹約けんやく
    N1

    thrift; economy; frugality

  • 倹けん

    economizing; thriftiness; prudence; frugality

  • 倹しいつましい

    thrifty; frugal; economical

  • 倹吝けんりん

    greedy and stingy

  • 倹約令けんやくれい

    laws regulating expenditures; sumptuary edicts; thrift ordinance

  • 倹約家けんやくか

    thrifty person; frugal person; economizer

  • 倹素けんそ

    economical and simple

  • 勤倹きんけん

    industry; diligence; frugality

  • 勤倹の風きんけんのふう

    custom (habit) of diligence and thrift

  • 勤倹力行きんけんりっこう

    work hard and practice frugality

  • 勤倹貯蓄きんけんちょちく

    thrift and saving

  • 恭倹きょうけん

    respectfulness and modesty; deference

  • 温良恭倹譲おんりょうきょうけんじょう

    cordial, obedient, respectful, modest, and moderate

  • 節倹せっけん

    economy; thrift

  • 質素倹約しっそけんやく

    (practice of) simplicity and frugality; scrimping and saving

Explore all words using 倹 →

Study

Etymology

倹 is the modern simplified form of 儉. The older form combines 亻 (person) with 僉, which likely contributed the sound and the idea of moderation or restraint. The modern right side 㑒 is a simplified shape.

Meaning mnemonic

A person 亻 beside a simplified shape 㑒 that suggests checking or limiting. Picture someone carefully measuring out only what is needed, being thrifty and economical.

Reading mnemonic

For ケン, imagine a frugal person named Ken who saves every penny: Ken -> ケン, and his thrifty habits match the kanji's meaning.