Skip to content
Kotomora

器

utensil, vessel, receptacle, implement, instrument, ability, container, tool, set

JLPTN2StatusJōyō · grade 4FrequencyTop 1,000Strokes15

Readings

On'yomi

  • キ

Kun'yomi

  • うつわ

Meaning

器 centers on a physical object that holds or does something: a container, utensil, or tool. The ability sense extends this idea to a person's capacity to hold or perform a role.

Most common words using 器

24 of 804
  • 器うつわ
    N2

    bowl; vessel; container

  • 武器ぶき
    N2

    weapon; arms; ordnance

  • 兵器へいき
    N1

    arms; weapon; ordnance

  • 機器きき

    device; equipment; machinery; apparatus

  • 楽器がっき
    N2

    musical instrument

  • 容器ようき
    N3

    container; receptacle; vessel; packaging

  • 器具きぐ
    N2

    utensil; implement; tool; instrument; appliance; apparatus

  • 核兵器かくへいき
    N1

    nuclear weapon

  • 臓器ぞうき

    internal organs; viscera

  • 食器しょっき
    N3

    tableware

  • 器用きよう
    N3

    skillful; skilful; adroit; dexterous; dextrous; deft; nimble; handy

  • 不器用ぶきよう
    N3

    clumsy; awkward; unskillful

  • 土器どき

    earthenware

  • 器官きかん
    N1

    organ

  • 凶器きょうき

    dangerous weapon; lethal weapon; deadly weapon; murder weapon

  • 陶器とうき
    N1

    pottery; earthenware; ceramics; (soft-paste) porcelain; china

  • 石器せっき

    stone implement (e.g. stone age arrowheads); stone tool

  • 銃器じゅうき

    small arms

  • 泌尿器ひにょうき

    urinary organs

  • 計器けいき
    N1

    meter; gauge

  • 陶磁器とうじき

    ceramics; pottery and porcelain

  • 火器かき

    firearms; guns

  • 補聴器ほちょうき

    hearing aid

  • 鈍器どんき

    blunt weapon

Explore all words using 器 →

Study

Etymology

器 combines 哭 (a dog-like shape with mouths) and 吅 (two mouths), historically suggesting a vessel or container with multiple openings. The exact development is uncertain, but the vessel meaning is well established.

Meaning mnemonic

The top 哭 looks like a dog with four mouths, and the bottom 吅 adds two more mouths. Picture a complex vessel with many openings, like a multi-spouted container or a tool with several ports.

Reading mnemonic

For キ, imagine a key-shaped tool fitting into a special container: key -> キ, and the key unlocks the vessel's many openings.