彼
he, that, the
Readings
On'yomi
- ヒ
Kun'yomi
- かれ
- かの
- か.の
Nanori
- その
Meaning
彼 centers on pointing to something distant from the speaker: a third person (he), a thing (that), or a general reference (the). Its meanings all share the idea of indicating something not immediately here.
Most common words using 彼
20 of 58- 彼かれN5
he; him
- 彼女かのじょN5
she; her
- 彼らかれらN4
they; them
- 彼氏かれしN3
boyfriend
- 彼方かなたN1
beyond; across; the other side; the distance
- 彼のかの
that well-known ...; the one and only ...
- 彼女らかのじょら
they (females); them
- 彼岸ひがんN1
equinoctial week (when Buddhist services are held)
- 彼岸花ひがんばな
red spider lily (Lycoris radiata); cluster amaryllis
- 誰彼だれかれ
this or that person; anybody; many people
- 彼我ひが
self and others; this and that; both sides; oneself and one's opponent; he and I
- 今彼いまかれ
current boyfriend
- 何やら彼にやらなにやらかにやら
this and that; one thing or another
- 何やら彼やらなにやらかやら
this and that; one thing or another
- 何処にも彼処にもどこにもかしこにも
all over; everywhere
- 何処も彼処もどこもかしこも
all over; all over the place; everywhere
- 元彼もとかれ
former boyfriend; ex-boyfriend
- 元彼女もとかのじょ
ex-girlfriend; former girlfriend
- 前彼まえかれ
former boyfriend; ex-boyfriend
- 各人に彼のものをかくじんにかれのものを
to each his own; may all get their due; suum cuique
Study
Etymology
彼 combines 彳 (movement) with 皮, which likely contributes the sound. The character originally referred to going to a distant place, later extended to mean 'that' or 'he'.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side 彳 suggests a path or movement, and the right side 皮 (skin) can be thought of as a surface. Imagine pointing to a person or thing far away, across a path: that distant figure is 彼 (he/that).
Reading mnemonic
For ヒ, picture a distant 'he' waving his hand: 'he' -> ヒ, and you point to him across the path.