寡
widow, minority, few
Readings
On'yomi
- カ
Kun'yomi
—
Meaning
寡 centers on being alone or in a small number: a widow is a woman left alone, and minority or fewness is the state of being outnumbered or scarce.
Most common words using 寡
20 of 29- 寡黙かもく
untalkative; quiet; taciturn; reticent; uncommunicative
- 寡占かせん
oligopoly; control of a market
- 多寡たか
degree (of something); greatness or smallness (of something); quantity; number; amount; size
- 寡婦かふ
widow; divorced woman not remarried; unmarried woman
- 寡頭かとう
small number of people
- 寡作かさく
unprolific (writer, artist, etc.)
- 寡か
minority; small numbers
- 寡人かじん
I; me
- 寡兵かへい
small army force
- 寡勢かぜい
small military force; numerically inferior force
- 寡占価格かせんかかく
oligopoly price; oligopolistic price
- 寡夫かふ
widower
- 寡少かしょう
exceedingly little; exceedingly few; scanty; paltry; puny
- 寡居かきょ
widowhood
- 寡欲かよく
unselfishness; wanting little
- 寡産かさん
low fecundity
- 寡男やもお
widower
- 寡聞かぶん
having little knowledge (of); being ill-informed
- 寡言かげん
reticence; taciturnity
- 寡頭制かとうせい
oligarchy
Study
Etymology
寡 combines 宀 (roof) with a lower component that historically represented a person alone under the roof, conveying the idea of solitude or fewness. The exact development of the lower part is uncertain, but the character has long been associated with widowhood and scarcity.
Meaning mnemonic
Under a roof 宀, a lone figure sits in an empty house. The sparse, solitary scene captures the idea of a widow or a small, isolated minority.
Reading mnemonic
For カ, imagine a lone widow driving a car to a quiet, empty house: car -> カ, and she is the only one there, emphasizing fewness.