己

KANJI DETAIL

self

On readingこ, き

3 strokesN2

Radical 己 · self

Stroke order

3 strokes

Japanese readings

On reading: こ, き
Kun reading: おのれ, つちのと

Study notes

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

Structure: 己 means oneself; its on-readings include こ and き.
Basic usage: 自己(じこ) means self or oneself, while 克己(こっき) means self-discipline or self-mastery.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

Oneself and self-discipline
- 自己の判断 means one's own judgment. In 自己紹介, the person being introduced is oneself.
- 克己の精神 means a spirit of self-discipline. 克己 concerns controlling oneself to maintain training or keep a chosen goal.