気 means “spirit / air / feeling”

Watch: Gen and Shibamaru learn 気

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Where 気 comes from

The older form of 気 is 氣: steam (气) rising from cooked rice (米). From "steam" and "air" came the meanings "spirit" and "feeling."

Stroke order (6 strokes)

1. 1
2. 2
3. 3
4. 4
5. 5
6. 6

Words with 気

• 

  天気てんき

  TENKI

  weather

• 

  元気げんき

  GENKI

  healthy / cheerful

• 

  電気でんき

  DENKI

  electricity

• 

  人気にんき

  NINKI

  popularity

The part of each word written with 気 is shown in orange. Audio: the readings from our video.

Reading tips

• 気 is about how something feels: the feel of the sky (天気, weather), of a person (元気, healthy), of a crowd (人気, popularity).
• お元気ですか (OGENKI DESU KA) means "How are you?"

In the video

• Gen気って よく 見るんだなI see it everywhere!
• Shibamaru毎日 つかうよYou'll use them every day.

Example sentences

• お元気ですか。

  OGENKI DESU KA.

  How are you?

• 電気を つけて ください。

  DENKI O TSUKETE KUDASAI.

  Please turn on the light.

Keep learning kanji

• GENKI I Textbook (3rd Edition)

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