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Kotomora

格

status, rank, capacity, character, case (law, grammar)

JLPTN3StatusJōyō · grade 5FrequencyTop 500Strokes10

Readings

On'yomi

  • カク
  • コウ
  • キャク
  • ゴウ

Kun'yomi

—

Nanori

  • いたる
  • のり

Meaning

格 centers on a framework that defines position or quality: a person's status or rank, the capacity or character of something, and the grammatical or legal cases that structure language and law.

Most common words using 格

24 of 490
  • 価格かかく
    N3

    price; value; cost

  • 性格せいかく
    N3

    character (of a person); personality; disposition; nature

  • 資格しかく
    N3

    qualifications; requirements; capabilities

  • 本格ほんかく
    N1

    original method; original procedure; genuine way (of doing something)

  • 格好いいかっこいい
    N4

    attractive; good-looking; stylish; cool; smooth; neat; with-it; groovy

  • 合格ごうかく
    N4

    passing (an exam); pass; success; passing grade

  • 格好かっこう
    N4

    shape; form; figure; posture; pose

  • 格かく
    N1

    status; position; rank

  • 規格きかく
    N1

    standard; norm

  • 人格じんかく
    N1

    personality; character; individuality; personhood

  • 格闘かくとう
    N1

    (hand-to-hand) fight; grapple; scuffle; tussle

  • 格安かくやす

    (very) cheap; (very) inexpensive; cut-price; bargain (price)

  • 格差かくさ
    N1

    qualitative difference; disparity; gap

  • 失格しっかく
    N1

    disqualification; elimination; incapacity

  • 厳格げんかく
    N1

    strict; severe; stern; rigid; rigorous; tough

  • 昇格しょうかく

    promotion; raising of status

  • 骨格こっかく

    skeleton; skeletal structure; build; frame; physique

  • 体格たいかく
    N1

    build; physique; frame; constitution

  • 格子こうし
    N1

    lattice; latticework; window bars; grid; grating; trellis

  • 格段かくだん

    dramatic (improvement); remarkable (difference); marked; noticeable

  • 格付けかくづけ

    rating; ranking; grading; classification

  • 降格こうかく

    demotion; relegation; downgrading

  • 適格てきかく

    eligible; qualified; competent

  • 格別かくべつ
    N2

    particular; special; exceptional; especial

Explore all words using 格 →

Study

Etymology

格 combines 木 (tree, wood) with 各, which likely contributes the sound. The original sense may relate to a wooden framework or pattern, later extending to abstract standards and categories.

Meaning mnemonic

A wooden (木) framework (各 suggests a pattern) sets the standard: 格 is the structure that determines status, rank, or category.

Reading mnemonic

For カク, imagine a wooden rack (カク) where each shelf marks a different rank: rack -> カク, and the wooden frame defines the status.