閣
tower, tall building, palace
Readings
On'yomi
- カク
Kun'yomi
—
Meaning
閣 centers on a tall, imposing structure: a tower, a tall building, or a palace. It suggests something elevated and grand.
Most common words using 閣
20 of 75- 内閣ないかくN1
cabinet (of a government); ministry
- 閣下かっか
your Excellency; his Excellency; her Excellency
- 閣僚かくりょうN1
cabinet ministers
- 閣議かくぎ
cabinet meeting
- 仏閣ぶっかく
Buddhist temple
- 入閣にゅうかく
joining the cabinet
- 天守閣てんしゅかく
castle tower; keep; donjon
- 金閣寺きんかくじ
Kinkakuji (temple in Kyoto); Golden Pavilion
- 組閣そかくN1
formation of a cabinet
- 楼閣ろうかく
multistoried building; castle; palace; shrine
- 倒閣とうかく
overthrow of government
- 金閣きんかく
golden pavilion
- 有斐閣ゆうひかく
Yūhikaku (law book publisher)
- 閣内かくない
(inside the) Cabinet
- 内閣法制局ないかくほうせいきょく
Cabinet Legislation Bureau
- 影の内閣かげのないかく
shadow cabinet
- 内閣官房ないかくかんぼう
Cabinet Secretariat
- 内閣府ないかくふ
Cabinet Office
- 閣外かくがい
outside the Cabinet
- 内閣官房長官ないかくかんぼうちょうかん
Chief Cabinet Secretary
Study
Etymology
閣 combines 門 (gate) with 各, which likely contributes the sound. The character originally referred to a gatehouse or a tall structure with a gate, later extending to towers and palaces.
Meaning mnemonic
A gate 門 with 各 inside: imagine each (各) floor of a tall tower behind a grand gate. The gate opens to reveal a towering palace.
Reading mnemonic
For カク, picture a tall tower shaped like a cock (rooster) crowing at dawn: cock -> カク, and the tower stands tall like a proud rooster.