観
outlook, look, appearance, condition, view
Readings
On'yomi
- カン
Kun'yomi
- み.る
- しめ.す
Meaning
観 centers on the act of looking carefully to form an impression: observing, viewing, or assessing the appearance or condition of something. The 'outlook' sense extends this to the resulting perspective or view.
Most common words using 観
24 of 376- 観光かんこうN3
sightseeing; tourism
- 観かんN1
look; appearance
- 観察かんさつN3
observation; survey; watching
- 観測かんそくN2
observation; survey; measurement
- 観客かんきゃくN3
spectator; audience
- 観点かんてんN1
point of view; viewpoint; standpoint; perspective; angle
- 観戦かんせんN1
watching a (sports) game; spectating; observing (military operations)
- 外観がいかんN1
outward appearance; exterior appearance; outward show; looks
- 客観きゃっかんN1
objectivity; objective; object (philosophical)
- 観念かんねんN2
idea; notion; concept; conception
- 主観しゅかんN1
subjectivity; subject (philosophical); ego
- 景観けいかん
scenery
- 観覧かんらんN1
viewing
- 楽観らっかんN1
optimism; taking an optimistic view
- 観音かんのん
Avalokiteshvara (Bodhisattva); Avalokitesvara; Kannon; Kwannon; Guanyin; Buddhist deity of compassion
- 悲観ひかんN1
pessimism; (taking a) gloomy view; discouragement; despondency; despair; disappointment
- 観賞かんしょうN1
admiration; appreciation; enjoyment; viewing (for pleasure)
- 先入観せんにゅうかんN1
preconception; preconceived notion; prejudice
- 傍観ぼうかんN1
looking on; standing by and watching; sitting back and watching; remaining a spectator
- 観衆かんしゅうN1
spectators; onlookers; members of the audience
- 観劇かんげき
theatre-going; theater-going
- 参観さんかん
visit; inspection
- 静観せいかん
watchful waiting; careful supervision
- 価値観かちかん
sense of values; values; value system
Study
Etymology
観 combines 見 (see) with a phonetic component historically derived from 雚 (a type of bird), which contributed the sound カン. The character expresses the idea of looking or observing.
Meaning mnemonic
The right side is 見 (see). The left side looks like a bird (隹) with an arrow (矢) — imagine watching a bird through a scope, carefully observing its appearance and condition.
Reading mnemonic
For カン, picture looking through a can as a makeshift telescope to observe the view: can -> カン, and you see the outlook clearly.