The kanji 器 generally signifies "vessel," "container," "utensil," or "tool." It encompasses anything that can hold something else, or anything designed for a specific purpose. It implies a sense of both the physical object and its function, emphasizing its capacity to receive, contain, or accomplish a task.

・On-yomi (音読み): キ(ki) ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): うつわ(utsuwa)

⚫︎食器 (しょっき) Translation: Tableware; dishes. ⚫︎楽器 (がっき) Translation: Musical instrument. ⚫︎有能な器 (ゆうのうなうつわ) Translation: A capable person; someone with talent. (Here, 器 figuratively refers to a person's potential or ability.)

The kanji 器 is a phono-semantic compound. The left side is 口 (kuchi, mouth), and it's a semantic component, which means that this part indicates meanings of related concepts. The right side is 犬 (inu, dog). It appears to have originally depicted a person holding something. The combination suggests something that "contains" or "holds" something, like a container holds a thing. Over time, the form evolved to its current shape.