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道Nihongo Path
個

個·individual, counter for small objects

On-yomi
コ
Kun-yomi
none

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

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

10 strokes, numbered in writing order. Data: KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
個人こじんan individual
一個いっこone piece
個性こせいindividuality, personality
個室こしつprivate room

Example sentences

  1. りんごを三個ください。

    りんごをさんこください。

    Three apples, please.

  2. これは個人の意見です。

    これはこじんのいけんです。

    This is a personal opinion.

  3. この店は個室があるので、ゆっくり話せる。

    このみせはこしつがあるので、ゆっくりはなせる。

    This restaurant has private rooms, so you can talk at your leisure.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 一個 as いちこ — it contracts to いっこ
  • Using 個 to count flat or long things; those take 枚 and 本

Memory aid

Picture it

A person (亻) beside one hard thing (固) — one distinct item, counted singly.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 個 mean?