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Kotomora

核

nucleus, core, kernel

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 500Strokes10

Readings

On'yomi

  • カク

Kun'yomi

—

Meaning

核 centers on the central, essential part of something: the nucleus of a cell, the core of an idea, or the kernel of a seed.

Most common words using 核

20 of 232
  • 核かく
    N2

    stone (of a fruit); pit; pip

  • 核兵器かくへいき
    N1

    nuclear weapon

  • 中核ちゅうかく
    N1

    kernel; core; nucleus; center; centre

  • 核心かくしん
    N1

    core; heart (of the matter); point; crux; kernel

  • 結核けっかく
    N1

    tuberculosis; TB

  • 核ミサイルかくミサイル

    nuclear missile

  • 非核ひかく

    non-nuclear; anti-nuclear

  • 核弾頭かくだんとう

    nuclear warhead

  • 核酸かくさん

    nucleic acid

  • 核保有かくほゆう

    possession of nuclear weapons

  • 核分裂かくぶんれつ

    nuclear fission

  • 原子核げんしかく

    nucleus; atomic nucleus

  • 核種かくしゅ

    nuclide

  • 反核はんかく

    anti-nuclear

  • 肺結核はいけっかく

    pulmonary tuberculosis

  • 核軍縮かくぐんしゅく

    nuclear disarmament

  • 痔核じかく

    hemorrhoid

  • 核実験かくじっけん

    nuclear (bomb) test

  • 核燃料かくねんりょう

    nuclear fuel

  • 核家族かくかぞく

    nuclear family

Explore all words using 核 →

Study

Etymology

核 combines 木 (tree, wood) with 亥, which likely contributes the sound and may relate to the idea of a hard inner part, as in a fruit stone or kernel.

Meaning mnemonic

A tree (木) with a hard inner core (亥) like a fruit pit: the kernel is the essential part.

Reading mnemonic

For カク, imagine cracking open a nut to find the kernel: the crack sound cues カク, and inside is the core.