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Word 2659 of 4449

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甲

こう

1. the back or shell (of the hand, foot, a turtle); 2. the first party (in a contract); grade A; first in rank

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Examples

  1. 手の甲に傷がある。

    てのこうにきずがある。

    There is a cut on the back of his hand.

  2. 契約書では貸主を甲、借主を乙とする。

    けいやくしょではかしぬしをこう、かりぬしをおつとする。

    In the contract the lessor is Party A and the lessee Party B.

  3. 亀の甲より年の功。

    かめのこうよりとしのこう。

    Age and experience beat a tortoise's shell.

  4. 二人の成績は甲乙つけがたい。

    ふたりのせいせきはこうおつつけがたい。

    There is nothing to choose between their results.

Common patterns

手の甲
the back of the hand
甲乙つけがたい
too close to call
甲羅
a shell (of a turtle or crab)

Memory tip

In contracts 甲 and 乙 are Party A and Party B, and in old grading 甲乙丙 is A, B, C. 手の甲 is the back of the hand (the palm is 手のひら). The calendar reading きのえ — the first of the ten stems, as in 甲子園 — survives only in almanacs and names.

Kanji in this word

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What does 甲 mean?