孔
孔·cavity, hole, slit
- On-yomi
- コウク
- Kun-yomi
- none
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 孔雀 | くじゃく | peacock |
| 瞳孔 | どうこう | pupil (of the eye) |
| 気孔 | きこう | stoma (of a plant); pore |
| 孔子 | こうし | Confucius |
Example sentences
動物園で孔雀が羽を広げた。
どうぶつえんでくじゃくがはねをひろげた。
A peacock spread its feathers at the zoo.
医者が瞳孔の様子を調べた。
いしゃがどうこうのようすをしらべた。
The doctor examined the pupils of his eyes.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- 孔雀 is くじゃく — an irregular reading worth memorising whole
- For an ordinary hole write 穴; 孔 is for small technical openings (気孔, 瞳孔)
Memory aid
Picture it
A child 子 beside a hook 乚: the tiny opening a baby feeds through — a small aperture.
Quick check
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What does the kanji 孔 mean?