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Kotomora

忌

mourning, abhor, detestable, death anniversary

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 2,000Strokes7

Readings

On'yomi

  • キ

Kun'yomi

  • い.む
  • い.み
  • い.まわしい

Nanori

  • いまわ

Meaning

忌 centers on a strong negative feeling tied to death and impurity: mourning a loss, abhorring something as detestable, and observing a death anniversary as a day of taboo.

Most common words using 忌

20 of 65
  • 忌むいむ

    to avoid; to refrain from; to shun

  • 忌き

    mourning; mourning period

  • 禁忌きんき

    taboo

  • 忌避きひ

    evasion; avoidance; shirking

  • 忌憚きたん

    reserve; modesty; hesitation; restraint

  • 忌まわしいいまわしい
    N1

    abhorrent; abominable; detestable; disgusting; horrid; repugnant

  • 忌みいみ

    mourning; abstinence

  • 忌日きにち

    anniversary of a person's death (on which Buddhist commemorative rites, etc. are performed)

  • 忌々しいいまいましい

    annoying; infuriating; provoking; irritating; aggravating; vexing

  • 忌み嫌ういみきらう

    to detest; to abhor; to loathe

  • 回忌かいき

    death anniversary; anniversary of a person's death

  • 一周忌いっしゅうき

    first anniversary of a person's death

  • 七回忌しちかいき

    sixth anniversary of a death

  • 三回忌さんかいき

    second anniversary of a death

  • 一回忌いっかいき

    first anniversary of a person's death; first death anniversary

  • 一年忌いちねんき

    first anniversary of a person's death

  • 七年忌しちねんき

    seventh anniversary of a death

  • 三十三回忌さんじゅうさんかいき

    32nd anniversary of death

  • 三周忌さんしゅうき

    second anniversary of a death

  • 仏涅槃忌ぶつねはんき

    Buddhist service held on the day of Buddha's death (orig. 15th of the 2nd month, now 15th of the 3rd month)

Explore all words using 忌 →

Study

Etymology

忌 combines 己 (self) and 心 (heart), suggesting a heart turned in on itself with aversion or taboo feelings. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the component combination likely expresses a strong personal revulsion.

Meaning mnemonic

The top 己 looks like a coiled snake, and the bottom 心 is a heart. Imagine a heart recoiling from a snake—this is the feeling of abhorrence and the heavy heart of mourning.

Reading mnemonic

For キ, picture a key locking away painful memories on a death anniversary: key -> キ, and the heart 心 under 己 keeps the mourning sealed.