起
rouse, wake up, get up
Readings
On'yomi
- キ
Kun'yomi
- お.きる
- お.こる
- お.こす
- おこ.す
- た.つ
Meaning
起 centers on the action of rising or causing to rise: waking up, getting up from rest, or rousing someone into activity.
Most common words using 起
24 of 256- 起こるおこるN4
to occur; to happen
- 起きるおきるN5
to get up; to rise; to blaze up (fire)
- 起こすおこすN4
to raise; to raise up; to set up; to pick up
- 起動きどうN2
startup; booting up; activation; starting (e.g. engine, computer); launch
- 勃起ぼっき
erection (of the penis); becoming erect; stiffening
- 起訴きそN1
prosecution; indictment
- 起用きよう
appointment (to a position, job, etc.); being used for a role; promotion
- 引き起こすひきおこすN1
to cause; to induce; to bring about; to provoke
- 起源きげんN1
origin; beginning; source
- 早起きはやおきN4
getting up early; early rising
- 提起ていきN1
raising (a question); posing (a problem); bringing up (an issue); presenting
- 喚起かんき
arousal; excitation; awakening; evocation
- 起因きいん
to be caused by; to result from; to arise from; to stem from; to be due to
- 縁起えんぎN1
omen; sign of luck
- 突起とっき
protuberance; projection; prominence; protrusion; bump; boss; process; apophysis
- 起点きてんN1
starting point; origin
- 起床きしょうN2
rising (from one's bed); getting up; getting out of bed
- 起爆きばく
ignition; detonation; triggering; explosion
- 再起さいきN1
comeback; recovery; restoration; rally
- 起立きりつN1
standing up
- 躍起やっき
desperate; frantic; excited; worked up; heated; eager
- 隆起りゅうき
protuberance; bulge; protrusion; projection; swell
- 起伏きふくN1
undulation
- 決起けっき
rising to action; standing up against; jumping to one's feet
Study
Etymology
起 combines 走 (run) with 巳, which likely contributes the sound and may represent a person rising. The character originally depicted someone starting to move or stand up.
Meaning mnemonic
The running radical 走 suggests movement, and the inner 巳 looks like a curled-up person. Imagine someone uncurling and springing up from bed: 起 is to wake up and get moving.
Reading mnemonic
For キ, picture a key turning in a lock to rouse a sleepy person: key -> キ, and the sound of the key wakes them up.