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Kotomora

往

journey, travel, chase away, let go, going, before, formerly

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · grade 5FrequencyTop 2,000Strokes8

Readings

On'yomi

  • オウ

Kun'yomi

  • い.く
  • いにしえ
  • さき.に
  • ゆ.く

Nanori

  • みち

Meaning

往 centers on movement along a path: going, traveling, or journeying. The temporal senses 'before' and 'formerly' extend naturally from the idea of having gone past, while 'chase away' and 'let go' are less common applications of sending something on its way.

Most common words using 往

20 of 69
  • 往復おうふく
    N3

    making a round trip; going and returning; coming and going

  • 往来おうらい

    coming and going; traffic

  • 往年おうねん

    years gone by; earlier years; former years; the past

  • 往々おうおう

    sometimes; often

  • 往生おうじょう
    N1

    passing on to the next life

  • 立ち往生たちおうじょう
    N1

    being brought to a standstill; being stranded; getting stuck; stalling; deadlock

  • 右往左往うおうさおう
    N1

    moving about in confusion; going every which way; going this way and that

  • 往路おうろ

    outward journey

  • 往診おうしん
    N1

    doctor's visit; house call

  • 既往きおう

    the past

  • 往なすいなす

    to parry; to sidestep; to dodge

  • 往時おうじ

    the past; old times; bygone times; days of yore

  • 往生際おうじょうぎわ

    brink of death

  • 往還おうかん

    traffic; coming and going; highway

  • 既往症きおうしょう

    illness that one had in the past; previous illness; medical history; anamnesis

  • 大往生だいおうじょう

    peaceful death

  • 往復切符おうふくきっぷ
    N3

    round-trip ticket; return ticket

  • 人馬往来じんばおうらい

    the passage of people and horses; coming and going of people and horses

  • 以往いおう

    after; ... and later

  • 前言往行ぜんげんおうこう

    words and deeds of the people of yore

Explore all words using 往 →

Study

Etymology

往 combines 彳 (the 'step' or 'go' radical) with 主, which likely contributes the sound. The character originally expressed going or traveling.

Meaning mnemonic

The left side 彳 suggests a path or step, and the right side 主 looks like a master or lord. Picture a master setting out on a journey, stepping forward along the road.

Reading mnemonic

For オウ, imagine a traveler going on a journey and saying 'Oh!' (オウ) as they see the road ahead. The 'Oh!' sound cues オウ while the traveler steps forward.