気
気 represents spirit, energy, air, or mood. It originally depicted steam rising, capturing the idea of something intangible yet present — like atmosphere, feeling, or vital energy.
Reading
On’yomi:
キ (KI)、
ケ (KE)
Basic Information
| Kanji | 気 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | spirit, energy, mood, air |
| Stroke Count | 6 |
| JLPT Level | N5 |
How to Understand This Kanji
気 is one of the most versatile kanji in Japanese. It can mean air (空気), mood (気分), notice (気づく), care (気をつける), and appears in dozens of expressions about mental and emotional states.
Common Words
-
元気
（げんき）
— healthy, energetic, in good spirits -
天気
（てんき）
— weather -
気分
（きぶん）
— feeling, mood -
人気
（にんき）
— popularity -
空気
（くうき）
— air, atmosphere -
気をつける
（きをつける）
— to be careful, to take care
Example Sentences
-
元気ですか？
げんきですか？
How are you? / Are you well?
-
今日の天気はいいですね。
きょうのてんきはいいですね。
The weather is nice today, isn’t it?
-
気をつけて帰ってください。
きをつけてかえってください。
Please be careful on your way home.
When Learners Usually See This Kanji
気 appears in countless everyday expressions. Learning phrases like 気をつけて (be careful), 気分 (mood), 元気 (healthy/energetic), and 天気 (weather) early on will make a large difference in your comprehension.
Summary
気 means ‘spirit,’ ‘energy,’ or ‘feeling’ and is one of the most common kanji in daily Japanese, appearing in greetings and everyday expressions.
| Kanji | 気 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | spirit, energy, mood, air |
| On’yomi | キ、ケ (KI, KE) |
| Strokes | 6 |
| JLPT | N5 |