興きょう

きょ

う

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

Refers to something that captures one's interest or provides enjoyment. Often used in compounds like 興味 (interest) or 余興 (side entertainment).

彼かれの話はなしは興きょうをそそる内ない容ようだった。
His story was intriguing.

noun

implicit comparison (style of the Shi Jing)

A technical term from Chinese poetics, referring to one of the six principles of the Shi Jing. Rarely used outside classical literary studies.

Usage patterns

〈事こと〉が興きょうを添そえるfor something to add extra interest or fun (to an occasion)
彼かれのジョークが会かいに興きょうを添そえた。
His jokes added extra fun to the gathering.
興きょうを催もよおすto feel a sense of interest or inspiration
美うつくしい景色けしきが詩し人じんの興きょうを催もよおした。
The beautiful scenery stirred the poet's inspiration.

Expressions

興きょうが乗のるget into the swing of things; warm up to; get excited by
興きょう味みないuninterested; not interested; having no interest
興きょうが醒さめるhave one's fun spoiled; have one's enthusiasm dampened
興きょうを冷さますspoil the fun; be a wet blanket; kill the mood
興きょう味みをそそるarouse interest; whet the appetite; be intriguing

Kanji

興entertain, revive, retrieve

Related words

興きょう味みN4sense 1
興味 is the common everyday word for 'interest', while 興 is a more literary term mainly found bound inside compounds like 余興 or 即興.
面おも白しろみN2sense 1
面白み is the everyday word for the enjoyable or interesting quality of something, whereas 興 is a more literary, old-fashioned term for the same feeling.

Opposites

退たい屈くつN3sense 1
退屈 describes boredom or tedium, the opposite state from the interest and enjoyment expressed by 興.

Word family· 20

興きょう味みN4
interest; curiosity; zest
即そっ興きょう
improvisation · improvised; impromptu; ad-lib
余よ興きょうN1
entertainment; performance; side show
興きょうずる
amuse oneself; make merry; have fun
興きょうじるN1
enjoy oneself; have fun; amuse oneself

Show 13 more

興きょうざめ
spoiled fun; loss of interest; wet blanket; turn-off
遊ゆう興きょう
merrymaking; pleasure-seeking; carousing
不ふ興きょう
displeasure; bad mood; pique
座ざ興きょう
party entertainment; amusement; fun; trick
感かん興きょう
interest; inspiration; enjoyment
春しゅん興きょう
enjoyment of spring; delight in spring
比ひ興きょう
explicit and implied comparisons (literary devices in the Classic of Poetry) · interesting; strange; unreasonable; lowly; cowardly
秋しゅう興きょう
autumnal delight; pleasantness of autumn
興きょう趣しゅ
interest; appeal; charm
詩し興きょう
poetic inspiration; urge to compose poetry
酒しゅ興きょう
merrymaking; convivial drinking
投とう扇せん興きょう
fan tossing game
興きょうがる
be amused; show interest

See all 20 in Explore →

Etymology

From Middle Chinese 興 (xing). The character originally depicted four hands lifting a tray, suggesting 'to raise' or 'to start', which extended to 'interest' and 'entertainment'.