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Kotomora

穏

calm, quiet, moderation

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 2,000Strokes16

Readings

On'yomi

  • オン

Kun'yomi

  • おだ.やか

Meaning

穏 centers on a state of peaceful stillness and balance: calm, quiet, and moderation. It describes a gentle, undisturbed condition where extremes are avoided.

Most common words using 穏

  • 穏やかおだやか
    N3

    calm; quiet; gentle; peaceful; mild

  • 平穏へいおん
    N1

    tranquil; calm; restful; peaceful; quiet

  • 不穏ふおん
    N1

    disquieting; threatening; turbulent; restless; unsettled; disturbing

  • 穏健おんけん
    N1

    moderate (view, politics, etc.); temperate; sensible; sober; non-radical

  • 穏便おんびん

    gentle; peaceable; amicable; quiet

  • 安穏あんのん

    peace; quiet; tranquility; tranquillity

  • 静穏せいおん

    tranquility; tranquillity; calmness; serenity; quietness

  • 穏当おんとう

    proper; reasonable; right; appropriate

  • 不穏当ふおんとう

    improper; inappropriate; unjust; unfair; unreasonable

  • 不穏分子ふおんぶんし

    dissidents; troublemakers; disturbing elements

  • 不穏文書ふおんぶんしょ

    inflammatory pamphlets

  • 安穏無事あんのんぶじ

    peace and quiet; safe and peaceful; tranquil and uneventful

  • 平穏無事へいおんぶじ

    peaceful; quiet; uneventful

  • 心中穏やかでないしんちゅうおだやかでない

    uneasy; ill at ease; upset; agitated; perturbed

  • 心穏やかこころおだやか

    calm (emotions); relaxed; untroubled; relieved; serene

  • 無事平穏ぶじへいおん

    peace and quiet; safe and peaceful; tranquil and uneventful

  • 穏健派おんけんは

    moderate faction; moderates

  • 穏健路線おんけんろせん

    moderate line; middle-of-the-road line (in politics)

  • 資性穏和しせいおんわ

    being of a gentle disposition; being of a mild character

Explore all words using 穏 →

Study

Etymology

穏 is the modern simplified form of 穩. The older form combines 禾 (grain) with a phonetic component that also suggests gathering or pressing down, giving the idea of grain pressed down and settled, hence calm and stable.

Meaning mnemonic

The left side 禾 is grain, and the right side looks like a hand (爫) pressing down on a heart (心) through a lid (彐). Picture grain being gently pressed down to keep it calm and still, like settling a quiet mind.

Reading mnemonic

For オン, imagine turning on a soft, calm light that fills the room with quiet: on -> オン, and the grain settles peacefully under its glow.