藝
art, craft, performance, acting, trick, stunt
StatusJinmeiyō (variant)FrequencyTop 5,000Strokes18
Readings
On'yomi
- ゲイ
- ウン
Kun'yomi
- う.える
- のり
- わざ
Meaning
藝 centers on skilled human expression: art, craft, performance, and acting. The trick and stunt senses extend naturally from the idea of practiced, showy skill.
Most common words using 藝
Study
Etymology
藝 is the traditional form of 芸. It combines 蓺 (planting, skill) with 云, which likely contributed sound. The character originally related to planting and cultivation, later extended to cultivated skills and arts.
Meaning mnemonic
The top 蓺 looks like a person tending a plant with care and skill. The bottom 云 adds the idea of speaking or expressing. Together, 藝 is the cultivated skill of artistic expression.
Reading mnemonic
For ゲイ, imagine a performer in a gay (ゲイ) costume putting on a skilled stunt: gay -> ゲイ, and the art comes alive.