Ｋ

Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

noun

K; k

The Latin letter K itself, used in abbreviations, symbols, and as a character.

この単たん語ごはＫで始はじまる。
This word starts with K.

noun

kilo-

Prefix meaning 1000, used in units like kilogram (kg) or kilometer (km).

Usage patterns

〈数かず〉Ｋけーexpresses the karat purity of gold
このネックレスは18Kです。
This necklace is 18 karat gold.

Related words

キロN5sense 2
Ｋ is the written abbreviation used before a unit (as in Kg), while キロ is the full spoken/written Japanese word for the kilo- prefix.
ケルビン sense 3
Ｋ is the symbol used in scientific notation, while ケルビン is the full Japanese name of the temperature unit.
カラット sense 4
Ｋ (as in 18K) is the symbol used to state gold purity, while カラット spells out the same measure in full, and is also used for gemstone weight.
カリウム sense 5
Ｋ is the chemical symbol for potassium, while カリウム is the Japanese chemical name.
キッチンN1sense 9
Ｋ is the abbreviation used in floor-plan notation, while キッチン is the ordinary word for kitchen.

Written forms

Ｋ
- ケー
  Standard uppercase Latin letter K used in Japanese text.
- ケイ
ケイUsage90%
ケーUsage10%
ｋ
Lowercase variant; less common but still used in some contexts.

Etymology

The letter K is borrowed from the Latin alphabet. Its various meanings derive from abbreviations in English and other European languages (kilo-, kelvin, karat, king, key, Köchel, kitchen). The chemical symbol K comes from Latin kalium.