幸
happiness, blessing, fortune
Readings
On'yomi
- コウ
Kun'yomi
- さいわ.い
- さち
- しあわ.せ
Nanori
- こ
- さき
- さし
- さっ
- とも
- ひろ
- みゆき
- ゆ
- ゆき
- よし
Meaning
幸 centers on a state of favorable fortune: happiness, blessings, or good luck that comes one's way.
Most common words using 幸
20 of 78- 幸せしあわせN4
happiness; good fortune; luck; blessing
- 幸いさいわいN3
happiness; blessedness; luck; fortune; felicity
- 不幸ふこうN3
unhappiness; sorrow; misfortune; disaster; accident
- 幸福こうふくN3
happiness; well-being; joy; welfare; blessedness
- 幸さち
good luck; fortune; happiness
- 幸運こううんN3
good luck; fortune
- 御幸ぎょうき
imperial visit; imperial outing
- 多幸たこう
great happiness
- 不幸せふしあわせN1
unhappiness; misfortune; ill luck
- 幸先さいさき
sign (of things to come)
- 行幸ぎょうこう
imperial visit
- 射幸しゃこう
speculation
- 薄幸はっこう
unfortunate; unhappy; ill-fated; hapless
- 山の幸やまのさち
food of the mountains (wild game, mountain vegetables, mushrooms, etc.); fruits of the land
- 神幸しんこう
transferring a shintai in a portable shrine, e.g. to another shrine or to a ceremony
- 幸甚こうじん
being extremely grateful; being much obliged; being very appreciative; being very happy
- 山幸やまさち
food of the mountains (wild game, mountain vegetables, mushrooms, etc.); fruits of the land
- 射幸心しゃこうしん
passion for gambling; fondness for speculation; speculative spirit
- 不幸にもふこうにもN1
unfortunately; unluckily; regrettably
- 不幸中の幸いふこうちゅうのさいわいN1
small mercy (from some misfortune); silver lining of a dark cloud; consolation in sadness; blessing in disguise
Study
Etymology
幸 originally depicted a handcuff or shackle, but its meaning shifted to 'happiness' through the idea of being spared from punishment or misfortune. The modern form no longer clearly shows the original image.
Meaning mnemonic
The top part looks like a roof over a treasure (the lower strokes), suggesting a blessing or fortune that shelters you.
Reading mnemonic
For コウ, imagine a happy koala (コウアラ) receiving a blessing: koala -> コウ, and the koala's joy matches the meaning of 幸.