奥

音読おんよみ: オウ

訓読くんよみ: おく

画数かくすう: 12

部首ぶしゅ: 大（だい）

Meaning

Inner / Interior / Depths / Back.

  • 奥おく — inner part / depths
  • 奥行おくゆき — depth / length
  • 奥深おくぶかい — profound / deep
  • 奥義おうぎ — secret art / hidden truth
  • 奥地おくち — interior / remote area
  • 秘奥ひおう — hidden depths

奥 originally depicted the western inner part of a house, a place hidden deep inside. From this, it took on meanings of “interior,” “inner depths,” and by extension, “profound.”

深

Think of 奥 and 深 together. Both suggest something hidden far inside. 奥 points to the inner recesses, while 深 points to depth below the surface.

義
Forms

奥義おうぎ — secret art / hidden truth

Note: The word 奥義おうぎ is sometimes mistakenly read as おくぎ, even by natives.

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