故
故·reason, cause, accident, mishap, the late (deceased)
- On-yomi
- コ
- Kun-yomi
- ゆえ
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 事故 | じこ | accident |
| 故障 | こしょう | breakdown, malfunction |
| 故郷 | こきょう | hometown, birthplace |
| 故人 | こじん | the deceased |
Example sentences
車が故障して動かない。
くるまがこしょうしてうごかない。
The car has broken down and won't move.
交通事故に気をつけてください。
こうつうじこにきをつけてください。
Please watch out for traffic accidents.
十年ぶりに故郷へ帰った。
じゅうねんぶりにこきょうへかえった。
I went back to my hometown for the first time in ten years.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Reading 故障 as ことしょう — it is こしょう
- Reading 何故 as なにゆえ in ordinary text — the usual modern reading is なぜ
Memory aid
Picture it
古 (old) plus 攵 (an action): something done in the past that explains the present — the cause, the reason, and by extension the late and departed.
Vocabulary using this kanji
- 温故知新おんこちしんlearning from the past
- 故人こじんthe deceased; the departed; (archaic) an old friend
- 故こthe late (deceased); former
- 其れ故それゆえtherefore; for that reason; so
- 何故なぜwhy; how come; for what reason
- 何故ならなぜならbecause; the reason is that
- 事故じこaccident
- 故障こしょうbreakdown, being out of order
- 故郷こきょうhometown
- 交通事故こうつうじこtraffic accident
- 故にゆえにtherefore
- 故意にこいにintentionally; deliberately
Quick check
1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5
What does the kanji 故 mean?