Readings: オウ (Onyomi), おく (Kunyomi)
Meaning: inner part, back, inside, depth, profound
The character 奥 combines 臼 (usu, mortar) and a component suggesting a hidden, deep place or a small, private room. It represents a deep, inner, or secluded part, often at the back of a house or building.
View JLPT N2 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 奥 is written with 12 strokes. It starts with the top part, then the components resembling “大” and “臼”, followed by the final closing strokes.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 臼 (うす) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 12 |
| JLPT Level | N2 |
| Grade | 3 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- 奥 (Ou)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- 奥 (oku)
Common Words Using 奥
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 奥義 | おうぎ | inner secrets, profound meaning |
| 奥伝 | おうでん | secret teachings, esoteric knowledge |
| 奥州 | おうしゅう | Oshu (an old province in Japan) |
| 奥旨 | おうし | profound meaning, essence (literary/archaic) |
| 奥殿 | おうでん | inner palace building (historical/archaic) |
| 奥堂 | おうどう | inner hall of a temple/palace (historical/archaic) |
| 奥番 | おうばん | guard of inner quarters (historical) |
| 奥書院 | おうしょいん | inner study/drawing room (historical architecture, less common but exists) |
| 奥社 | おうしゃ | inner shrine (less common but exists in some contexts) |
| 奥御殿 | おうごてん | inner palace (historical/archaic) |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 奥 | おく | back, inner part, interior, depth |
| 奥さん | おくさん | (someone’s) wife (polite) |
| 奥様 | おくさま | (someone’s) wife (more polite) |
| 奥地 | おくち | inland region, remote area |
| 奥深い | おくぶかい | profound, deep (figurative) |
| 奥底 | おくそこ | depths, bottom of one’s heart |
| 奥まった | おくまった | secluded, remote |
| 奥座敷 | おくざしき | back room, inner parlor |
| 奥歯 | おくば | back tooth, molar |
| 奥の細道 | おくのほそみち | The Narrow Road to the Deep North (famous Basho haiku collection) |
Example Sentences
Japanese: その店の奥に喫茶店があります。
Kana: そのみせのおくにきっさてんがあります。
Romaji: Sono mise no oku ni kissaten ga arimasu.
English: There is a coffee shop at the back of that store.
Japanese: 彼は奥深い知識を持っています。
Kana: かれはおくぶかいちしきをもっています。
Romaji: Kare wa okubukaki chishiki wo motte imasu.
English: He has profound knowledge.
Japanese: 山の奥へ行けば行くほど、道が険しくなった。
Kana: やまのおくへいけばいくほど、みちがけわしくなった。
Romaji: Yama no oku e ikeba iku hodo, michi ga kewashiku natta.
English: The deeper we went into the mountains, the steeper the path became.
Japanese: 彼女はいつも私の心の奥にいます。
Kana: かのじょはいつもわたしのこころのおくにいます。
Romaji: Kanojo wa itsumo watashi no kokoro no oku ni imasu.
English: She is always in the depths of my heart.
Japanese: 奥様はご在宅ですか。
Kana: おくさまはございたくですか。
Romaji: Okusama wa go-zaitaku desu ka?
English: Is your wife at home?
Japanese: この奥には誰も入ってはいけません。
Kana: このおくにはだれもはいってはいけません。
Romaji: Kono oku ni wa daremo haitte wa ikemasen.
English: No one is allowed to enter this inner part.
Japanese: 奥さんはとても優しい人です。
Kana: おくさんはとてもやさしいひとです。
Romaji: Okusan wa totemo yasashii hito desu.
English: My wife is a very kind person.
Japanese: 絵の奥に大きな木が見える。
Kana: えのおくにおおきなきがみえる。
Romaji: E no oku ni ookina ki ga mieru.
English: You can see a big tree in the background of the painting.
Japanese: その奥義を学ぶには長年の修行が必要だ。
Kana: そのおうぎをまなぶにはながねんのしゅぎょうがひつようだ。
Romaji: Sono ougi wo manabu ni wa naganen no shugyou ga hitsuyou da.
English: To learn those inner secrets, many years of training are required.
Japanese: 彼は奥ゆかしい性格だ。
Kana: かれはおくゆかしいせいかくだ。
Romaji: Kare wa okuyukashii seikaku da.
English: He has a modest/refined personality.
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