Readings: キュウ, グウ, ク (Onyomi), みや (Kunyomi)
Meaning: shrine, palace, imperial villa, court
The kanji 宮 originally depicted a house with a roof and two rooms, symbolizing a grand building such as a palace or a shrine. Its ancient form suggests a complex, enclosed structure, reflecting its meaning of an important dwelling or sacred place.
View JLPT N1 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The stroke order for 宮 begins with the roof radical (宀), followed by the inner components. Write the top dot first, then the horizontal stroke with a hook, followed by the left and right vertical strokes of the inner structure, then the horizontal lines inside, and finally the bottom closing stroke.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 宀 (うかんむり) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 10 |
| JLPT Level | N1 |
| Grade | Grade 7 (Junior High) |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- キュウ (kyuu)
- グウ (guu)
- ク (ku)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- みや (miya)
Common Words Using 宮
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 宮殿 | きゅうでん | palace |
| 宮内庁 | くないちょう | Imperial Household Agency |
| 宮廷 | きゅうてい | imperial court |
| 神宮 | じんぐう | Grand Shinto shrine |
| 離宮 | りきゅう | detached palace, imperial villa |
| 東宮 | とうぐう | Crown Prince |
| 宮司 | ぐうじ | chief priest of a Shinto shrine |
| 子宮 | しきゅう | uterus |
| 宮中 | きゅうちゅう | imperial court, palace |
| 宮家 | みやけ | imperial family branch |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 宮 | みや | shrine, palace, imperial residence |
| お宮 | おみや | (honorific) shrine |
| 宮参り | みやまいり | shrine visit (e.g., newborn’s first visit) |
| 宮仕え | みやづかえ | service at court, government service |
| 宮づくり | みやづくり | shrine/temple construction style |
| 宮様 | みやさま | Prince/Princess (title, honorific) |
| 宮入り | みやいり | entering the shrine (during a festival) |
| 宮城 | みやぎ | Miyagi (prefecture name) |
| 宮崎 | みやざき | Miyazaki (prefecture name) |
| 宮古 | みやこ | Miyako (city name); old word for capital |
Example Sentences
Japanese: その古い神宮は、森の中にひっそりと佇んでいる。
Kana: そのふるいじんぐうは、もりなかにひっそりとたたずんでいる。
Romaji: Sono furui jinguu wa, mori no naka ni hissori to tatazunde iru.
English: The old grand shrine stands quietly in the forest.
Japanese: 皇居は日本の宮殿の中で最も有名です。
Kana: こうきょはにほんのきゅうでんのなかでもっともゆうめいです。
Romaji: Kōkyo wa Nihon no kyūden no naka de mottomo yūmei desu.
English: The Imperial Palace is the most famous palace in Japan.
Japanese: 彼は宮廷に仕える役人でした。
Kana: かれはきゅうていにつかえるやくにんでした。
Romaji: Kare wa kyūtei ni tsukaeru yakunin deshita.
English: He was an official serving at the imperial court.
Japanese: 子宮筋腫は女性によく見られる病気です。
Kana: しきゅうきんしゅはじょせいによくみられるびょうきです。
Romaji: Shikyū kinshu wa josei ni yoku mirareru byōki desu.
English: Uterine fibroids are a common disease in women.
Japanese: 赤ちゃんのお宮参りの準備をしました。
Kana: あかちゃんのおみやまいりのじゅんびをしました。
Romaji: Akachan no omiyamairi no junbi o shimashita.
English: We prepared for the baby’s first shrine visit.
Japanese: 東宮殿下は国民に大変慕われています。
Kana: とうぐうでんかはこくみんにたいへんしたわれています。
Romaji: Tōgū Denka wa kokumin ni taihen shitawarete imasu.
English: His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince is greatly beloved by the people.
Japanese: 宮司が厳かに祝詞を上げた。
Kana: ぐうじがおごそかきのりとをあげた。
Romaji: Guuji ga ogosoka ni norito o ageta.
English: The chief priest solemnly offered a prayer.
Japanese: かつて、貴族たちは宮中で華やかな生活を送っていた。
Kana: かつて、きぞくたちはきゅうちゅうではなやかなせいかつをおくっていた。
Romaji: Katsute, kizoku-tachi wa kyūchū de hanayaka na seikatsu o okutte ita.
English: In the past, nobles lived a splendid life at court.
Japanese: 天皇陛下は葉山の御用邸（離宮）で静養された。
Kana: てんのうへいかのはやまのごようてい（りきゅう）でせいようされた。
Romaji: Tennō Heika wa Hayama no goyōtei (rikyū) de seiyō sareta.
English: His Majesty the Emperor rested at the Hayama Imperial Villa (detached palace).
Japanese: 明治神宮は外国人観光客にも人気の観光地です。
Kana: めいじじんぐうはがいこくじんかんこうきゃくにもにんきのかんこうちです。
Romaji: Meiji Jinguu wa gaikokujin kankōkyaku nimo ninki no kankōchi desu.
English: Meiji Shrine is a popular tourist destination even among foreign tourists.
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