風
wind, air, style, manner
Readings
On'yomi
- フウ
- フ
Kun'yomi
- かぜ
- かざ-
Nanori
- い
- え
Meaning
風 centers on moving air: wind and the atmosphere. The style and manner senses extend naturally from the idea of a prevailing wind or current that shapes behavior.
Most common words using 風
24 of 775- 風かぜN5
wind; breeze; draught; draft
- 風ふうN3
method; manner; way; style
- 風呂ふろN5
bath; bathing; bathtub; bathroom
- 台風たいふうN4
typhoon; hurricane
- 風俗ふうぞくN1
manners; customs
- 風邪かぜN5
(common) cold; influenza; flu; ague; inflammatory respiratory system illness (in general)
- 風景ふうけいN3
scenery; scene; landscape; view; sight
- 風味ふうみ
taste; flavor; flavour
- 風船ふうせんN2
balloon (toy or decoration)
- 和風わふうN2
Japanese style
- 扇風機せんぷうきN2
electric fan
- 風潮ふうちょう
tide; current
- 強風きょうふうN2
strong wind; high wind; moderate gale
- 風習ふうしゅうN1
custom
- 風刺ふうしN1
satire; irony; sarcasm
- 作風さくふうN1
style (of a work, author, artist, etc.); characteristics
- 疾風しっぷう
gale; strong wind; swift wind; fresh breeze (Beaufort scale)
- 風力ふうりょくN1
wind power
- 風速ふうそくN1
wind speed
- 風情ふぜい
taste; elegance; charm
- 風土ふうどN1
natural features; topography; climate; spiritual features
- 暴風ぼうふうN1
storm; windstorm; gale
- 露天風呂ろてんぶろ
open-air bath; rotenburo; rotemburo
- 神風かみかぜ
divine wind (esp. a typhoon thought to have protected Japan from a Mongolian invasion in the 13th century)
Study
Etymology
風 is a pictograph of a sail or windsock, later combined with 虫 (insect) to represent the wind that carries insects or the idea of movement. The modern form retains the sail-like enclosure and the insect component.
Meaning mnemonic
The outer shape looks like a windsock or sail catching the air, and the inner 虫 suggests things carried by the wind. Together, 風 is wind and air, and by extension, the style or manner that flows like a current.
Reading mnemonic
For フウ, imagine a strong wind blowing through a bamboo grove, making a 'foo' sound: foo -> フウ, and the wind shapes the style of the rustling leaves.