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Kotomora

妓

stretch, singing girl, geisha, prostitute

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Readings

On'yomi

  • ギ
  • キ

Kun'yomi

  • わざおぎ
  • うたいめ

Meaning

妓 centers on a woman who performs or entertains, historically a singing girl, geisha, or prostitute. The older meaning 'stretch' is likely a separate, rare usage.

Most common words using 妓

  • 舞妓まいこ

    maiko; apprentice geisha (in Kyoto)

  • 芸妓げいぎ

    geisha

  • 一盗二婢三妾四妓五妻いっとうにひさんしょうしぎごさい

    (the most thrilling relationships for a man are) another man's wife, a maidservant, a mistress, a prostitute, and finally his own wife

  • 名妓めいぎ

    famous geisha; talented geisha; beautiful geisha

  • 妓ぎ

    geisha

  • 妓夫ぎゅう

    pimp; brothel tout

  • 妓楼ぎろう

    brothel

  • 妓生キーセン

    kisaeng (Korean female entertainer)

  • 妓院ぎいん

    brothel

  • 娼妓しょうぎ

    prostitute; harlot

  • 愛妓あいぎ

    favored geisha; beloved geisha; geisha someone is showing favor to

  • 歌妓かぎ

    woman who earns her living by entertaining with song, dance and playing the shamisen; geisha who sings at parties

  • 絃妓げんぎ

    geisha; woman who entertains (e.g. by playing the shamisen) for her living

  • 美妓びぎ

    beautiful maiko or geisha

  • 老妓ろうぎ

    aged geisha

  • 舞妓遊びまいこあそび

    being entertained by a maiko (geisha apprentice)

  • 芸娼妓げいしょうぎ

    geisha and prostitutes

  • 芸娼妓解放令げいしょうぎかいほうれい

    ordinance liberating all geisha and prostitutes (1872)

  • 芸舞妓げいまいこ

    geisha and maiko

  • 雛妓すうぎ

    child geisha; geisha apprentice

Explore all words using 妓 →

Study

Etymology

妓 combines 女 (woman) with 支, which likely contributes the sound and may relate to skill or performance. The exact historical development of the 'stretch' meaning is uncertain.

Meaning mnemonic

A woman 女 beside 支, which looks like a hand holding a branch, suggests a performer using props or gestures. Picture a singing girl or geisha entertaining with graceful movements.

Reading mnemonic

For ギ, imagine a geisha (ぎ) performing: the first sound of 'geisha' is ギ, and the kanji itself means geisha.