Kanji 君

音読おんよみ: クン

訓読くんよみ: きみ

画数かくすう: 7

部首ぶしゅ: くち(口)

Meaning

You / Buddy / Mr. / Ruler

  • きみ — you
  • 君主くんしゅ — monarch
  • 君達きみたち — you all
  • 君子くんし — nobleman
  • 君命くんめい — imperial order
  • 暴君ぼうくん — tyrant; despot

君 combines 口 (mouth, command) with 尹 (to rule), giving it the sense of a person who rules by word or command — hence, a lord or ruler. Over time, it also came to be used affectionately to refer to someone personally (like “you” or “buddy”).

◀︎ Sayings+ ▶︎