内
inside, within, between, among, house, home
Readings
On'yomi
- ナイ
- ダイ
Kun'yomi
- うち
Nanori
- いと
- ただ
- ち
- のち
Meaning
内 centers on the concept of interiority: being inside, within, or among a bounded space or group. The meanings 'house' and 'home' extend this to the inner domestic sphere.
Most common words using 内
24 of 980- 内うちN5
inside; within
- 内ない
within ...; inside ...
- 内容ないようN3
contents; content; substance; matter; detail; import
- 国内こくないN4
within the country; inside the county; domestic; home; internal
- 案内あんないN5
guidance; leading (the way); showing around
- 内部ないぶN2
interior; inside; internal
- 以内いないN4
within; inside of; less than
- 内閣ないかくN1
cabinet (of a government); ministry
- 市内しないN1
in the city; within the city
- 都内とないN1
within the (Tokyo) metropolitan area
- 県内けんない
within the prefecture
- 内側うちがわN3
inside; interior; inner part
- 車内しゃないN1
inside a car (train, bus, etc.)
- 社内しゃない
within a company; in-house
- 体内たいない
interior of the body
- 内緒ないしょN3
secrecy; confidentiality; privacy; secret
- 内蔵ないぞう
internal (e.g. disk); built-in; equipped (with)
- 店内てんない
inside of a store (restaurant, café, etc.); store interior; on the premises
- 室内しつないN1
indoor; inside the room
- 身内みうちN1
relatives; one's family
- 内臓ないぞうN1
internal organs; viscera
- 内定ないていN2
tentative decision; unofficial offer (esp. job offer); informal offer
- 内科ないかN3
internal medicine
- 屋内おくないN1
indoors
Study
Etymology
内 originally depicted a person entering a dwelling or enclosure, representing the idea of inside. The modern form retains 人 inside 冂, a simplified enclosure.
Meaning mnemonic
A person 人 steps inside a framed entrance 冂, so 内 means inside or home.
Reading mnemonic
For ナイ, imagine a person inside their home at night: night -> ナイ, and the person is safely within.