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Kotomora

顧

look back, review, examine oneself, turn around

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 2,000Strokes21

Readings

On'yomi

  • コ

Kun'yomi

  • かえり.みる

Nanori

  • たか
  • み

Meaning

顧 centers on directing attention backward or inward: looking back at the past, reviewing something carefully, or examining oneself reflectively. The idea of turning around physically is a concrete application of that same backward focus.

Most common words using 顧

20 of 52
  • 顧客こきゃく

    customer; client; patron

  • 顧問こもん

    adviser; advisor; consultant; counselor

  • 顧みかえりみ

    looking back

  • 回顧かいこ
    N1

    recollecting; reminiscing; looking back; retrospection; review

  • 愛顧あいこ

    patronage; favour; favor; custom

  • 顧みるかえりみる
    N1

    to look back on (the past); to reflect on; to reminisce about

  • 恩顧おんこ

    favour; favor; patronage

  • 一顧いっこ

    slightest notice; slightest consideration; slightest attention; a little thought; glance

  • 回顧録かいころく

    memoirs; reminiscences

  • 顧客満足こきゃくまんぞく

    customer satisfaction

  • ご愛顧ごあいこ

    patronage; favour; favor; custom

  • 一顧だにしないいっこだにしない

    not taking the slightest notice (of); not giving the slightest consideration (to); paying absolutely no attention (to)

  • 一顧傾城いっこけいせい

    woman so glamorous as to bring ruin to a country (castle) as its king (lord) is captivated by her beauty; femme fatale

  • 三顧の礼さんこのれい

    showing (someone) special courtesy (to persuade them to take a post)

  • 上顧客じょうこきゃく

    loyal customer; important customer

  • 副顧問ふくこもん

    assistant counsel; deputy counsel; sub-adviser

  • 危険を顧みずきけんをかえりみず

    heedless of danger; braving dangers

  • 右顧左眄うこさべん

    inability to make up one's mind due to worrying about how others will think; hesitation; wavering; vacillation

  • 四顧しこ

    looking everywhere; looking in all four directions

  • 回顧展かいこてん

    retrospective exhibition; retrospective

Explore all words using 顧 →

Study

Etymology

顧 combines 雇 (to employ, look after) and 頁 (head), suggesting the idea of turning one's head to look back or attend to something. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the component combination fits the meaning of looking back or reviewing.

Meaning mnemonic

The left side 雇 suggests looking after or attending to something, and the right side 頁 is a head. Picture someone turning their head to look back and review what they have done, examining themselves carefully.

Reading mnemonic

For コ, imagine a person looking back and calling out 'Co!' to get their own attention: Co -> コ, as they turn around to review their actions.