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道Nihongo Path
軌

軌·rut, wheel, track

On-yomi
き
Kun-yomi
none

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
軌道きどうorbit, track, the right course
軌跡きせきtrajectory, locus, the path taken
常軌じょうきthe normal course
広軌こうきbroad gauge

Example sentences

  1. 新しい事業がやっと軌道に乗った。

    あたらしいじぎょうがやっときどうにのった。

    The new business has finally got on track.

  2. 衛星が地球の軌道を回っている。

    えいせいがちきゅうのきどうをまわっている。

    The satellite is circling in Earth orbit.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

  • 軌轍軌 and 轍 (わだち, wheel rut) both use the cart radical 車 for tracks left behind.

Common mistakes

  • 軌道に乗る means 'get going smoothly, get on track', with nothing to do with actual rails.
  • 常軌を逸する (じょうきをいっする) means to behave outrageously.

Memory aid

Picture it

Cart 車 with 九: the ruts cartwheels cut into a road — a fixed track you cannot leave.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 軌 mean?