記号（きごう、kigou）
- symbol

The Japanese word 記号 (きごう, kigou) generally translates to "symbol," "mark," or "sign" in English. It refers to a character or a visual representation that is used to represent something else, such as an idea, object, or concept. 記号 can be used in various contexts, including mathematics, science, music, and everyday writing.

⚫︎ 数学の記号 ・Translation: Mathematical symbols ⚫︎ 音楽の記号を理解する ・Translation: To understand musical notation ⚫︎ 記号の意味を説明する ・Translation: To explain the meaning of a symbol

You can use 記号 when talking about: ⚫︎ Symbols used in any field, such as math, chemistry, or music. ⚫︎ Any visual representation that stands for something else. ⚫︎ The act of recognizing or interpreting symbols.

⚫︎ Kanji: 記号 ⚫︎ Hiragana: きごう ⚫︎ Katakana: ギゴウ (rare, used for foreign symbols) There are no variations in okurigana.

⚫︎ マーク (māku): mark, often used for a specific type of mark or sign. ⚫︎ サイン (sain): sign, similar to the English word. ⚫︎ 象徴 (しょうちょう, shōchō): symbol, emblem, representing something abstract.

There are no direct antonyms as the word refers to something, not an action or state. However, the absence of a symbol or the lack of recognition of a symbol's meaning could be considered as the opposite in some contexts.

この図には、様々な化学記号が使われています。 ・Translation: Various chemical symbols are used in this diagram. ・Explanation: This sentence illustrates the use of 記号 in the context of science, specifically referring to the symbols used in chemistry.

文章に句読点などの記号がないと、読みにくいです。 ・Translation: If there are no punctuation marks in the sentences, it is difficult to read. ・Explanation: This sentence demonstrates 記号 referring to punctuation marks, which are important in writing.

The word 記号 is a compound word formed from two kanji: ⚫︎ 記 (ki): meaning "to record", "to write down", "to note", or "sign". ⚫︎ 号 (gō): meaning "mark", "signal", or "number". Together, these kanji create a word that conveys the idea of a "marked" or "noted" representation, a symbol or sign.