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Kotomora

芸

technique, art, craft, performance, acting, trick, stunt

JLPTN2StatusJōyō · grade 4FrequencyTop 1,000Strokes7

Readings

On'yomi

  • ゲイ
  • ウン

Kun'yomi

  • う.える
  • のり
  • わざ

Nanori

  • き
  • げ
  • なり

Meaning

芸 centers on skilled human activity that is practiced and performed: a technique, art, craft, or performance. The trick and stunt senses are extensions of practiced skill used to entertain or deceive.

Most common words using 芸

20 of 274
  • 芸術げいじゅつ
    N3

    art; the arts

  • 芸能げいのう
    N2

    public entertainment; performing arts

  • 芸人げいにん

    (TV) comedian

  • 芸能人げいのうじん
    N1

    entertainer; performer; celebrity; entertainment personality

  • 芸げい
    N1

    art; craft; accomplishment; artistic skill; technique; performance

  • 工芸こうげい
    N2

    industrial arts; craft

  • 文芸ぶんげい
    N2

    literature

  • 園芸えんげい
    N2

    horticulture; gardening

  • 学芸がくげい
    N1

    arts and sciences; liberal arts

  • 安芸あき

    Aki (former province located in the west of present-day Hiroshima Prefecture)

  • 陶芸とうげい
    N1

    ceramic art; ceramics

  • 手芸しゅげい
    N1

    handicrafts

  • 曲芸きょくげい

    acrobatics

  • 芸名げいめい

    stage name

  • 芸者げいしゃ

    geisha; professional female entertainer, usu. at traditional banquets

  • 芸風げいふう

    performing style; acting style

  • 大道芸だいどうげい

    street performance

  • 民芸みんげい

    folk craft; folk art

  • 演芸えんげい

    entertainment; performance

  • 芸当げいとう

    performance; trick; feat; stunt

Explore all words using 芸 →

Study

Etymology

芸 is the modern simplified form of 藝. The older form 藝 combines 埶 (planting, skill) with 云, which likely contributed sound. The modern 芸 retains the grass crown 艹 and the sound component 云, but the historical connection to planting and skill is clearer in the older form.

Meaning mnemonic

The grass crown 艹 sits above 云, like a performer's hat over a stage. Picture an actor wearing a leafy crown, performing a practiced trick or stunt on stage.

Reading mnemonic

For ゲイ, imagine a performer in a leafy crown doing a trick and saying 'Gay!' as a flourish: Gay -> ゲイ, and the artful performance gets a laugh.