複
duplicate, double, compound, multiple
Readings
On'yomi
- フク
Kun'yomi
—
Meaning
複 centers on things that are not single: something doubled, duplicated, or made of multiple parts. The idea of a compound or complex whole grows naturally from that sense of layered multiplicity.
Most common words using 複
20 of 174- 複数ふくすうN2
plural; multiple
- 複雑ふくざつN4
complex; complicated; intricate; mixed (feelings)
- 重複ちょうふくN1
duplication; repetition; overlapping; redundancy; restoration
- 複合ふくごうN1
composite; combined; complex
- 複ふく
compound; composite; multiple; re-; bi-
- 複製ふくせい
reproduction; duplication; reprinting
- 複写ふくしゃN2
copying; duplication; reproduction; copy
- 複素数ふくそすう
complex number
- 複素ふくそ
complex
- 複数個ふくすうこ
multitude
- 複線ふくせん
double track; two-track line
- 単複たんぷく
simplicity and complexity; singular and plural; single and double; singles and doubles (in tennis)
- 複眼ふくがん
compound eye
- 複利ふくり
compound interest
- 複式ふくしき
double-entry (e.g. bookkeeping)
- 複々線ふくふくせん
four-track rail line (two in each direction); quadruple railway track
- 複葉ふくよう
compound leaf; multifoliate leaf
- 複合語ふくごうご
compound word; compound term
- 複雑さふくざつさ
complexity
- 複写機ふくしゃき
photocopier; photocopying machine
Study
Etymology
複 combines 衤 (clothing) with 复, which likely contributes both sound and the idea of doubling or layering. The character originally referred to lined or double-layered garments, and the broader sense of duplication developed from there.
Meaning mnemonic
The clothing radical 衤 beside 复 suggests layers of fabric folded over each other. Picture a double-layered coat: 複 is about duplication and multiple layers.
Reading mnemonic
For フク, imagine a fuku (服, clothing) that is double-layered: fuku -> フク, and the doubled clothing matches the kanji's meaning of duplicate.