Readings: コウ (Onyomi), おこ.る, おこ.す (Kunyomi)
Meaning: prosperity, amusement, interest, revive, rise
The kanji 興 combines elements suggesting a raised platform or foundation (similar to 臼) and something rising or initiating (related to 同). It originally depicted something rising up, evolving to mean ‘to rise, to flourish, to prosper,’ and later ‘to be interested, to become excited.’
View JLPT N1 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 興 consists of 16 strokes. It begins with the top horizontal stroke, followed by the left and right components, and then the bottom part. The strokes are generally written from top to bottom, left to right, with careful attention to the order within each component.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 臼 (うす) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 16 |
| JLPT Level | N1 |
| Grade | S |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- コウ (Kou)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- おこ.る (oko.ru)
- おこ.す (oko.su)
Common Words Using 興
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 興味 | きょうみ | interest |
| 興奮 | こうふん | excitement |
| 復興 | ふっこう | reconstruction, rehabilitation |
| 振興 | しんこう | promotion, encouragement |
| 興行 | こうぎょう | entertainment performance, show business |
| 新興 | しんこう | newly rising, emerging |
| 余興 | よきょう | side show, entertainment at a party |
| 再興 | さいこう | revival, restoration |
| 興隆 | こうりゅう | prosperity, rise |
| 興廃 | こうはい | rise and fall, prosperity and decline |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 興る | おこる | to rise, to flourish (intransitive verb) |
| 興す | おこす | to raise, to start (a business), to revive (transitive verb) |
| 興り | おこり | origin, beginning (noun form of 興る) |
| 興し | おこし | act of starting/raising (noun form of 興す) |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 子供たちは新しいおもちゃに興味津々だ。
Kana: こどもたちはあたらしいおもちゃにきょうみしんしんだ。
Romaji: Kodomo-tachi wa atarashii omocha ni kyoumi shinshin da.
English: The children are very interested in the new toy.
Japanese: 試合の終盤、観客は興奮のるつぼと化した。
Kana: しあいのしゅうばん、かんきゃくはこうふんのるつぼとかした。
Romaji: Shiai no shuuban, kankyaku wa koufun no rutsubo to kashita.
English: In the final stage of the game, the spectators became a melting pot of excitement.
Japanese: 地震からの復興には時間がかかるだろう。
Kana: じしんからのふっこうにはじかんがかかるだろう。
Romaji: Jishin kara no fukkou ni wa jikan ga kakaru darou.
English: Reconstruction after the earthquake will probably take time.
Japanese: 地域経済の振興が政府の課題だ。
Kana: ちいきけいざいのしんこうがせいふのかだいだ。
Romaji: Chiiki keizai no shinkou ga seifu no kadai da.
English: Promoting the regional economy is a government challenge.
Japanese: その映画は史上最高の興行収入を記録した。
Kana: そのえいがはしじょうさいこうのこうぎょうしゅうにゅうをきろくした。
Romaji: Sono eiga wa shijou saikou no kougyou shuunyuu o kiroku shita.
English: That movie recorded the highest box office revenue in history.
Japanese: 新興市場への投資が増えている。
Kana: しんこうしじょうへのとうしがふえている。
Romaji: Shinkou shijou e no toushi ga fuete iru.
English: Investment in emerging markets is increasing.
Japanese: 宴会の余興で歌を披露した。
Kana: えんかいのよきょうでうたをひろうした。
Romaji: Enkai no yokyou de uta o hirou shita.
English: I performed a song as entertainment at the party.
Japanese: 彼は一度衰退した家業を再興した。
Kana: かれはいちどすいたいしたかぎょうをさいこうした。
Romaji: Kare wa ichido suitai shita kagyou o saikou shita.
English: He revived the family business that had once declined.
Japanese: 新しい文化がこの地から興り始めた。
Kana: あたらしいぶんかがこのちからおこりはじめた。
Romaji: Atarashii bunka ga kono chi kara okori hajimeta.
English: A new culture began to emerge from this land.
Japanese: 若者が故郷を興すために立ち上がった。
Kana: わかものがこきょうをおこすためたちあがった。
Romaji: Wakamono ga kokyou o okosu tame ni tachiagatta.
English: Young people rose up to revitalize their hometown.
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