Readings: キチ, キツ (Onyomi), よし (Kunyomi)
Meaning: Fortunate, good luck, joy, auspicious
The kanji 吉 is composed of 士 (scholar, gentleman, implying uprightness or correctness) and 口 (mouth, representing speaking or declaration). Together, it conveys the idea of an auspicious declaration or a pronouncement of good fortune.
View JLPT N1 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 吉 is written with 6 strokes. It starts with the top horizontal stroke, followed by the two vertical strokes forming the “士” component. Then, the “口” (mouth) radical is drawn below, starting with the left vertical stroke, then the top horizontal and right vertical stroke, and finally the bottom horizontal stroke.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 口 (くち) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 6 |
| JLPT Level | N1 |
| Grade | Elementary School, Grade 2 (常用漢字) |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- キチ (KICHI)
- キツ (KITSU)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- よし (yoshi)
Common Words Using 吉
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 吉日 | きちじつ | auspicious day |
| 吉兆 | きっちょう | auspicious sign; good omen |
| 吉報 | きっぽう | good news; glad tidings |
| 大吉 | だいきち | great blessing (e.g., on an omikuji fortune slip) |
| 中吉 | ちゅうきち | medium blessing (e.g., on an omikuji fortune slip) |
| 末吉 | すえきち | small blessing (e.g., on an omikuji fortune slip) |
| 不吉 | ふきつ | inauspicious; ominous; unlucky |
| 吉例 | きれい | established custom (originally an auspicious custom) |
| 吉凶 | きっきょう | fortune and misfortune; good or bad luck |
| 吉語 | きつご | auspicious word |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 吉野 | よしの | Yoshino (a common Japanese place name, famous for cherry blossoms) |
| 吉田 | よしだ | Yoshida (a very common Japanese surname) |
| 吉村 | よしむら | Yoshimura (a common Japanese surname) |
| 吉川 | よしかわ | Yoshikawa (a common Japanese surname) |
| 吉岡 | よしおか | Yoshioka (a common Japanese surname) |
| 吉本 | よしもと | Yoshimoto (a common Japanese surname; also a famous entertainment company) |
| 吉池 | よしいけ | Yoshiike (a common Japanese surname/place name) |
| 吉見 | よしみ | Yoshimi (a common Japanese surname/place name) |
| 吉原 | よしわら | Yoshiwara (a historical place name in Edo period Japan) |
| 吉成 | よしなり | Yoshinari (a common Japanese surname) |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 今日は結婚に吉日だ。
Kana: きょうはけっこんにきちじつだ。
Romaji: Kyou wa kekkon ni kichijitsu da.
English: Today is an auspicious day for marriage.
Japanese: 空に吉兆が現れた。
Kana: そらにきっちょうがあらわれた。
Romaji: Sora ni kitchō ga arawareta.
English: An auspicious sign appeared in the sky.
Japanese: 友人から吉報が届いた。
Kana: ゆうじんからきっぽうがとどいた。
Romaji: Yūjin kara kippō ga todoita.
English: Good news arrived from a friend.
Japanese: おみくじで大吉を引いた。
Kana: おみくじでだいきちをひいた。
Romaji: Omikuji de daikichi o hiita.
English: I drew a great blessing (daikichi) on my fortune slip.
Japanese: 彼の顔色は不吉な予感がする。
Kana: かれのかおいろはふきつなよかんがする。
Romaji: Kare no kaoliro wa fukitsu na yokan ga suru.
English: His complexion gives an ominous feeling.
Japanese: 毎年恒例の吉例行事が行われる。
Kana: まいとしこうれいんきれいぎょうじがおこなわれる。
Romaji: Maitoshi kōrei no kirei gyōji ga okonawareru.
English: The annual established customary event will be held.
Japanese: 来年の吉凶を占う。
Kana: らいねんのきっきょうをうらなう。
Romaji: Rainen no kikkyō o uranau.
English: We will divine next year’s fortune and misfortune.
Japanese: 彼は吉野出身だ。
Kana: かれはよしのしゅっしんだ。
Romaji: Kare wa Yoshino shusshin da.
English: He is from Yoshino.
Japanese: 吉田さんは新しい仕事を見つけた。
Kana: よしださんはあたらしいしごとをみつけた。
Romaji: Yoshida-san wa atarashii shigoto o mitsuketa.
English: Mr./Ms. Yoshida found a new job.
Japanese: 吉本興業は日本で有名な会社だ。
Kana: よしもとこうぎょうはにほんでゆうめいなかいしゃだ。
Romaji: Yoshimoto Kōgyō wa Nihon de yūmei na kaisha da.
English: Yoshimoto Kogyo is a famous entertainment company in Japan.
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