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Kotomora

呼

call, call out to, invite

JLPTN3StatusJōyō · grade 6FrequencyTop 500Strokes8

Readings

On'yomi

  • コ

Kun'yomi

  • よ.ぶ

Nanori

  • よぶ

Meaning

呼 centers on using the voice to get someone's attention: calling out, summoning, or inviting someone to come.

Most common words using 呼

20 of 197
  • 嗚呼ああ

    ah!; oh!; alas!

  • 呼ぶよぶ
    N5

    to call out (to); to call; to invoke

  • 呼吸こきゅう
    N3

    breathing; respiration

  • 呼びかけよびかけ

    call; appeal

  • 呼び出しよびだし

    call; summons; paging; curtain call

  • お呼びおよび

    call; invitation

  • 呼称こしょう
    N2

    name; designation; denomination; naming; giving a name

  • 呼ばわりよばわり

    calling (someone a thief, coward, etc.); branding (as); denouncing

  • 呼び名よびな
    N1

    popular name; common name; given name

  • 連呼れんこ

    calling repeatedly (e.g. someone's name)

  • 呼び出すよびだす
    N2

    to call (someone) to (the door, phone, etc.); to tell (someone) to come; to call up (on the phone); to summon; to page; to invoke (e.g. a spirit)

  • 深呼吸しんこきゅう

    deep breath

  • 呼びかけるよびかける
    N2

    to call out to; to hail; to address

  • 呼び捨てよびすて
    N1

    addressing (someone) without using a suffix such as "-san" or "-chan" (considered impolite)

  • 呼応こおう

    hailing each other

  • 呼び込むよびこむ

    to call in; to invite; to bring in

  • 呼び寄せるよびよせる

    to call; to summon; to send for; to call together

  • 点呼てんこ

    roll-call; muster

  • 呼び込みよびこみ

    barker; tout; hawker; someone who attempts to attract patrons to entertainment events, shops, bars, and such, by exhorting passing public

  • 呼び声よびごえ

    call; hail; yell

Explore all words using 呼 →

Study

Etymology

呼 combines 口 (mouth) with 乎, which likely contributes the sound and originally depicted breath or an exclamation. Together they express calling out with the mouth.

Meaning mnemonic

The mouth 口 on the left and the breath-like shape 乎 on the right suggest using your mouth to call out: 呼 means to call or invite.

Reading mnemonic

For コ, imagine calling out to a friend named Ko: 'Ko! Come here!' The sound 'Ko' cues コ while you call out with your mouth.