音読み: キョウ
訓読み: none*
画数: 4
部首: かんがまえ（凵）
Meaning
Bad luck / ominous / misfortune.
- 凶 — bad luck; misfortune
- 吉凶 — fortune and misfortune
- 凶行 — violent act; atrocity
- 凶悪 — atrocious; brutal
- 凶器 — deadly weapon
The radical かんがまえ（凵） looks like an open container. With the phonetic part representing “death or danger,” the meaning shifted to ominous, unlucky, or harmful events. It often contrasts with 吉 (good fortune).
Remember 凶 as the opposite of 吉 (good fortune). 吉 brings luck — 凶 takes it away. This contrast helps anchor the meaning “bad luck” and “ominous.”
Creates
凶悪 — atrocious; brutal; heinous crime.