Nihongo

Kanji Detail of 距

距

Level:N1 High
Strokes:12
Stroke Order
Related Words
AI Explanation
Basic Meaning

The kanji 距 primarily conveys the idea of "distance," "separation," or "interval." It refers to the space or gap between two points or objects. It can also imply a degree of difference or disparity.

Readings

・On-yomi (音読み): キョ (kyo) ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): へだた(り) (hedata(ri)) - distance, separation

Usage Examples

⚫︎ 距離 (kyori) Translation: Distance ⚫︎ 距離感 (kyorikan) Translation: Sense of distance; feeling of separation ⚫︎ 一線を画す (issen wo kaku) Translation: To draw a line; to make a clear distinction; to distance oneself (where "一線" means "a line" and "画す" means "to draw")

Origin and Formation

The kanji 距 is a 形声文字 (keisei moji), a phono-semantic compound. The left side is the radical 足 (ashi), meaning "foot" or "leg," indicating a relation to movement or space. The right side is the phonetic component 巨 (kyo), which contributes to the sound of the kanji. The combination suggests the idea of "stepping away" or the "space created by a step," leading to the meaning of distance.

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