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JLPT N112画 · 12 strokesradical 貝grade 6freq #970

precious, value, prize, esteem

Also: honor

On'yomi (音読み)

Kun'yomi (訓読み)

  • たっと.い
  • とうと.い
  • たっと.ぶ
  • とうと.ぶ

Mnemonic

A valuable pearl (貝) rests on a pedestal, signifying its precious (貴) esteem, shining like a prize at a royal ceremony.

About this kanji

The kanji 貴, pronounced as "ki" in on'yomi and "tato.i" or "toto.i" in kun'yomi, primarily means precious or valuable. It is often used as a noun, but it can also be used in verbs, especially in forms that express esteem or respect. A few common compounds include 貴重 (きちょう), which means precious or valuable; 貴族 (きぞく), meaning nobility or aristocracy; and 貴方 (あなた), a formal way to say "you". It’s worth noting that this kanji conveys a sense of honor or esteem, making it ideal for respectful language in various contexts.

Example sentences

  • 貴族は特別な地位を持つ。

    Nobles have a special status.

Meanings across languages

English
precious, value, prize, esteem, honor
Tiếng Việt
quý giá, giá trị, giải thưởng, tôn trọng, danh dự
日本語
貴重, 価値, 賞, 尊敬, 名誉
한국어
귀중한, 가치, 상, 존경, 명예
中文
珍贵, 价值, 奖项, 尊重, 荣誉
id
berharga
th
ล้ำค่า
es
precioso
fr
précieux
de
wertvoll
pt
precioso

Common compounds

  • 貴重きちょうprecious, valuable
  • 貴族きぞくnobility, aristocracy, peerage
  • 貴方あなたyou, dear, honey
  • 兄貴あにきelder brother, one's senior, older man
  • 騰貴とうきrise (in price or value), appreciation, advance
  • 貴金属ききんぞくprecious metal
  • 貴重品きちょうひんvaluable article, valuables
  • 貴社きしゃyour company, your shrine

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.