琴
琴·koto (harp)
- On-yomi
- キン
- Kun-yomi
- こと
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 琴 | こと | koto (Japanese zither) |
| 木琴 | もっきん | xylophone |
| 琴線 | きんせん | heartstrings |
| 竪琴 | たてごと | harp, lyre |
Example sentences
祖母は琴を弾くのが上手だ。
そぼはことをひくのがじょうずだ。
My grandmother is good at playing the koto.
その一言が彼の琴線に触れた。
そのひとことがかれのきんせんにふれた。
Those few words touched a chord in him.
音楽室には木琴が並べてあった。
おんがくしつにはもっきんがならべてあった。
Xylophones were lined up in the music room.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Reading 木琴 as きこと — it is もっきん, with both characters on-read
- Reading 琴線 as ことせん — it is きんせん
Memory aid
Picture it
Two jewel radicals (王王) side by side over 今 — parallel strings stretched across a board, played in the here and now.
Vocabulary using this kanji
Quick check
1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5
What does the kanji 琴 mean?