混
mix, blend, confuse
Readings
On'yomi
- コン
Kun'yomi
- ま.じる
- -ま.じり
- ま.ざる
- ま.ぜる
- こ.む
Meaning
混 centers on things coming together so they are no longer separate: mixing, blending, or becoming confused. The idea is a loss of clear boundaries.
Most common words using 混
20 of 151- 混乱こんらんN3
disorder; chaos; confusion; mayhem
- 混ぜるまぜるN3
to mix; to stir; to blend
- 混むこむN4
to be crowded; to be packed; to be congested; to be thronged (with)
- 混合こんごうN2
mixing; mixture; meld
- 混じるまじるN2
to be mixed; to be blended with; to be combined
- 混ざるまざるN2
to be mixed; to be blended with; to associate with; to mingle with; to join
- 混雑こんざつN3
congestion; crush; crowding; jam
- 混同こんどうN2
confusion; mixing; merger
- 混入こんにゅう
mixing; blending; adding; adulteration
- 混沌こんとん
chaos; confusion; disorder
- 混在こんざい
existing alongside (each other); mixture; intermingling
- 混浴こんよく
mixed bathing
- 混血こんけつN1
mixed race; mixed parentage
- 混迷こんめいN1
turmoil; chaos; confusion
- 混戦こんせん
confused fight; free-for-all; melee
- 混こん
(traffic) congestion; heavy traffic
- 混成こんせい
mixed (e.g. team, chorus)
- 混濁こんだく
becoming turbid; becoming muddy; becoming cloudy; becoming opaque
- かき混ぜるかきまぜる
to mix; to stir; to scramble; to churn
- 混声こんせい
mixed voices
Study
Etymology
混 combines 氵 (water) with 昆, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of many things together, suggesting water mixing things into a blended mass.
Meaning mnemonic
Water 氵 on the left and 昆 (which looks like a crowd of suns 日 and legs 比) on the right: imagine pouring water into a crowd, everything gets mixed and blended together.
Reading mnemonic
For コン, picture a con artist mixing truth and lies until you can't tell them apart: con -> コン, and the mixture confuses everyone.