奇
strange, strangeness, curiosity
Readings
On'yomi
- キ
Kun'yomi
- く.しき
- あや.しい
- くし
- めずら.しい
Meaning
奇 centers on something that stands out as unusual or unexpected: strangeness, oddity, or a curious quality that draws attention.
Most common words using 奇
20 of 149- 奇跡きせきN1
miracle; wonder; marvel
- 奇妙きみょうN3
strange; odd; peculiar; queer; curious
- 好奇こうき
inquisitiveness
- 奇き
strange; unconventional; eccentric; novel
- 奇襲きしゅう
surprise attack
- 怪奇かいきN1
bizarre; strange; weird; mysterious
- 奇遇きぐう
unexpected meeting; coincidence
- 奇抜きばつ
(very) unusual; unconventional; eccentric; novel; original; striking; bizarre; wild
- 奇形きけい
deformity; malformation
- 奇行きこう
eccentricity; eccentric behaviour
- 猟奇りょうき
seeking the bizarre (abnormal, grotesque, etc.)
- 奇声きせい
strange voice
- 奇人きじん
queer fellow; odd fellow; eccentric person; crank; oddball; freak
- 奇怪きかい
strange; wonderful; weird; outrageous; mysterious
- 奇数きすうN1
odd number
- 奇しくもくしくも
strangely; oddly; miraculously; mysteriously
- 奇術きじゅつ
magic; conjuring; sleight of hand; legerdemain
- 数奇すうき
misfortune; adverse fortune; hapless fate
- 奇異きい
odd; strange; queer; peculiar
- 伝奇でんき
fantasy fiction; bizarre fiction
Study
Etymology
奇 combines 大 (big) and 可 (possible/approval), but the historical origin is not fully clear. It may have originally expressed something extraordinary or remarkable, with 可 possibly contributing a phonetic element.
Meaning mnemonic
Imagine something so big (大) that it's barely possible (可) to believe—that's how strange and curious it is.
Reading mnemonic
For キ, picture a strange key (キ) that unlocks a box of curiosities: the key's odd shape matches the kanji's meaning.