氣
spirit, mind, air, atmosphere, mood
StatusJinmeiyō (variant)Strokes10
Readings
On'yomi
- キ
- ケ
Kun'yomi
- いき
Meaning
氣 centers on an invisible vital force or energy that fills a space: spirit, mind, air, atmosphere, or mood. All its meanings flow from this idea of an intangible presence that affects the environment.
Study
Etymology
氣 combines 气 (vapor, breath) with 米 (rice), suggesting the steam or energy rising from cooking rice. This image was extended to the broader concept of vital energy or spirit.
Meaning mnemonic
The outer enclosure 气 represents vapor or breath, and inside is 米 (rice). Picture the steam rising from a pot of cooking rice, filling the kitchen with an invisible energy—that's the spirit or atmosphere of 氣.
Reading mnemonic
For キ, imagine the steam from the rice forming a key in the air: key -> キ, and that key unlocks the vital energy of the room.