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Kotomora

等

etc., and so forth, class (first), quality, equal, similar

JLPTN3StatusJōyō · grade 3FrequencyTop 1,000Strokes12

Readings

On'yomi

  • トウ

Kun'yomi

  • ひと.しい
  • など
  • -ら

Nanori

  • と
  • ひ

Meaning

等 centers on the idea of sameness or grouping things of the same kind: being equal, similar, or of the same class. The 'etc.' and 'and so forth' senses extend this by implying other items of the same type.

Most common words using 等

24 of 359
  • 等など

    et cetera; etc.; and the like; and so forth

  • 等ら

    pluralizing suffix

  • これ等これら
    N3

    these

  • 高等こうとう
    N2

    high class; high grade

  • 同等どうとう
    N1

    equality; equal; same rights; same rank; equivalence

  • 等しいひとしい
    N2

    equal; identical; the same

  • 平等びょうどう
    N3

    equality; impartiality; evenness

  • 上等じょうとう
    N3

    superior; first-class; excellent; top quality

  • 対等たいとう
    N1

    equality (esp. of status); equal footing; equal terms

  • 等級とうきゅう
    N1

    grade; class; degree; rank; rating; order; points

  • 等身とうしん

    body proportions

  • 優等生ゆうとうせい
    N1

    honor student; honours student; model student; prize pupil

  • 等々とうとう

    etc.; et cetera; and so on

  • 均等きんとう
    N1

    equal (distribution, treatment, level, etc.); even; uniform

  • 一等いっとう
    N1

    first class; first rank; first grade; first place; first prize

  • 中等ちゅうとう

    second grade; medium quality; average; middle class; secondary grade

  • 不平等ふびょうどう
    N1

    inequality; unfairness

  • 等価とうか
    N1

    equivalence; equal value; parity

  • 等分とうぶん
    N2

    division into equal parts; equal parts

  • 下等かとう
    N1

    inferior; base; vulgar; low grade; lower class

  • 等閑なおざり
    N1

    neglect; negligence; disregard; making light of

  • 高等学校こうとうがっこう
    N4

    senior high school; high school

  • 劣等感れっとうかん
    N1

    inferiority complex; sense of inferiority

  • 高等教育こうとうきょういく
    N1

    higher education; tertiary education

Explore all words using 等 →

Study

Etymology

等 combines 竹 (bamboo) and 寺 (temple). Historically, 竹 likely represents bamboo slips used for writing, and 寺 may have contributed a phonetic element, together suggesting arranging or classifying written records into equal groups.

Meaning mnemonic

Imagine bamboo slips (竹) in a temple (寺) being sorted into equal stacks: each stack represents a class of similar items, and the rest are 'etc.'

Reading mnemonic

For トウ, picture a tall tower (タワー -> トウ) made of equal bamboo poles stacked neatly outside a temple.