敬
KANJI DETAIL
respect
On readingけい12 strokesN3
Radical 攴 · strikeStroke order
Loading the stroke order for 敬.
Japanese readings
- On reading
- けい
- Kun reading
- うやまう
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure: 敬 has 12 strokes and the on-reading けい. 敬う (うやまう) means to respect or revere; 敬遠 (けいえん) means avoiding something one is reluctant to engage with.
- Basic usage: 敬う is used for respecting elders or a mountain. 敬遠 occurs when avoiding a seemingly difficult book or an intimidating contest.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- Respect and avoidance
- 年長者を敬う means respecting elders. 山を敬ってきた means having revered a mountain; 敬って is the て-form of 敬う.
- 初心者から敬遠された means being avoided by beginners. 勝負を敬遠した likewise means avoiding a contest, so 敬遠 should not be translated literally as showing respect.