Readings: コウ (Onyomi), さいわ.い, さち, しあわ.せ (Kunyomi)
Meaning: Happiness, good fortune
The kanji 幸 is derived from a pictograph said to represent a person’s head enclosed in handcuffs or a thorny branch, symbolizing being fortunate to escape punishment or harm. It later evolved to mean “happiness” or “good fortune.”
View JLPT N3 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 幸 has 8 strokes. It starts with the top left component resembling 士 (samurai/scholar): first, a short horizontal stroke, then a vertical stroke crossing it, and finally another short horizontal stroke at the bottom of this component. Next, a long horizontal stroke is drawn across the middle, followed by a long vertical stroke that crosses it. Lastly, the bottom part is completed with a short horizontal stroke on the left, a hooked vertical stroke on the right, and a final horizontal stroke at the very bottom.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 土 |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 8 |
| JLPT Level | N3 |
| Grade | 3 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- コウ (Kou)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- さいわい (saiwai)
- さち (sachi)
- しあわせ (shiawase)
Common Words Using 幸
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 幸福 | こうふく | happiness, welfare |
| 幸運 | こううん | good luck, fortune |
| 不幸 | ふこう | unhappiness, misfortune |
| 多幸 | たこう | great happiness (often with ご) |
| 幸甚 | こうじん | great happiness (formal) |
| 薄幸 | はっこう | ill fortune |
| 慶幸 | けいこう | joy, rejoicing |
| 僥倖 | ぎょうこう | fluke, unexpected good fortune |
| 幸栄 | こうえい | glory and happiness |
| 幸喜 | こうき | joy and happiness |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 幸せ | しあわせ | happiness (noun) |
| 幸い | さいわい | happiness, good fortune (noun/adverb) |
| 幸 | さち | happiness, good fortune (often in older or literary contexts) |
| 幸せな | しあわせな | happy (な-adjective) |
| 幸いにも | さいわいにも | fortunately (adverbial phrase) |
| 幸あれ | さちあれ | May you be happy (common phrase) |
| 幸せを感じる | しあわせをかんじる | to feel happy |
| 幸を呼ぶ | さちをよぶ | to bring good fortune |
| 幸いにして | さいわいにして | fortunately, luckily (formal adverbial phrase) |
| 山幸彦 | やまさちひこ | Yamasachihiko (a figure in Japanese mythology) |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 彼は幸せな人生を送っている。
Kana: かれは しあわせな じんせいを おくっている。
Romaji: Kare wa shiawase na jinsei o okutte iru.
English: He is living a happy life.
Japanese: 幸いにも、電車に間に合った。
Kana: さいわいにも、でんしゃに まにあった。
Romaji: Saiwai ni mo, densha ni間にatta.
English: Fortunately, I made it to the train.
Japanese: 皆様の多幸を心よりお祈り申し上げます。
Kana: みなさまの たこうを こころより おいのりもうしあげます。
Romaji: Minasama no takou o kokoro yori oinori moushiagemasu.
English: I sincerely wish for everyone’s happiness.
Japanese: 不幸な事故が起こった。
Kana: ふこうな じこが おこった。
Romaji: Fukou na jiko ga okotta.
English: An unfortunate accident occurred.
Japanese: 彼の幸運を祈っています。
Kana: かれの こううんを いのっています。
Romaji: Kare no kōun o inotte imasu.
English: I am praying for his good luck.
Japanese: この出来事が、私の人生の幸不幸を分けた。
Kana: この できごとが、わたしの じんせいの こうふこうを わけて。
Romaji: Kono dekigoto ga, watashi no jinsei no koufukou o waketa.
English: This event divided the happiness and unhappiness of my life.
Japanese: あなたの未来に幸あれ。
Kana: あなたの みらいに さちあれ。
Romaji: Anata no mirai ni sachi are.
English: May your future be filled with happiness.
Japanese: 彼女は小さな幸せを見つけるのが得意だ。
Kana: かのじょは ちいさな しあわせを みつけるのが とくいだ。
Romaji: Kanojo wa chiisana shiawase o mitsukeru no ga tokui da.
English: She is good at finding small joys.
Japanese: この報告書は幸甚の至りです。
Kana: この ほうこくしょは こうじんの いたりです。
Romaji: Kono houkokusho wa koujin no itari desu.
English: This report is a source of great happiness (formal).
Japanese: 私は自分の幸運を信じている。
Kana: わたしは じぶんの こううんを しんじている。
Romaji: Watashi wa jibun no kōun o shinjite iru.
English: I believe in my own good fortune.
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