Back to dictionary
JLPT N116画 · 16 strokesradical 冫freq #1712

congeal, freeze, stiff, be absorbed in

On'yomi (音読み)

  • ギョウ

Kun'yomi (訓読み)

  • こ.る
  • こ.らす
  • こご.らす
  • こご.らせる
  • こご.る

Mnemonic

Picture a freezing river (the radical 冫) where fish congeal into ice, becoming stiff and absorbed in the frosty water below.

About this kanji

The kanji 凝 (ぎょう) primarily means to congeal or freeze, often representing a sense of becoming stiff or being deeply absorbed in something. It can be used as a verb, like in the compound 凝る (こる), which means to become stiff, especially regarding muscles. Another common compound is 凝固 (ぎょうこ), meaning coagulation, typically used in contexts like cooking or science. There's also 凝縮 (ぎょうしゅく), which refers to condensation, whether of ideas or emotions. Note that 凝 can also describe a state of focus, indicating a deep immersion in an activity or thought.

Example sentences

  • 彼の目は集中して凝っている。

    His eyes are focused and intense.

Meanings across languages

English
congeal, freeze, stiff, be absorbed in
Tiếng Việt
đông lại
日本語
凝る
한국어
응고되다
中文
id
membeku, membeku, menjadi kaku, terbenam dalam
th
แข็งตัว, แช่แข็ง, แข็ง, จดจ่ออยู่
es
congelar, congelar, endurecer, ser absorbido en
fr
congeler, geler, figer, s'absorber dans
de
gerinnen, gefrieren, versteifen, sich vertiefen
pt
coagular, congelar, durecer, absorver-se em

Common compounds

  • 凝るこるto become stiff (of muscles), to get absorbed in, to develop a passion for
  • 凝固ぎょうこcoagulation, freezing, solidification
  • 凝縮ぎょうしゅくcondensation (of ideas, emotions, etc.), concentration, condensation (of a vapour or gas)
  • 凝乎とじっとmotionlessly (e.g. stand, wait), (be) still, fixedly (e.g. gaze, stare)
  • 混凝土コンクリートconcrete
  • 凝ったこったelaborate, exquisite, ornate
  • 凝視ぎょうしstare, gaze, fixation
  • 凝りしこりmuscle stiffness (esp. in shoulders), lump (in tissue, esp. breast), swelling

Want to actually learn this kanji?

The dictionary is one view. The Kanji 360 app wraps every character with mnemonic images, audio readings, stroke-order animation, story context, and SRS scheduling — free to start on iPhone, iPad, and Android.