気

• Reading: き
• Romaji: ki
• Kanji breakdown: 気 (ki/ke) — spirit, mind, air, atmosphere
• Pronunciation: /ki/

Meaning

Spirit; mind; heart; feeling. The intangible essence of mood, attention, and energy.

One of the most fundamental and versatile kanji in Japanese. Appears in countless common expressions: 気持ち (kimochi, feeling), 気をつける (ki wo tsukeru, to be careful), 元気 (genki, lively), 天気 (tenki, weather), 人気 (ninki, popularity). Understanding 気 is key to mastering Japanese.

Examples

1. 気をつけて帰ってください。 Please be careful on your way home.
2. 今日は気分がいいです。 I'm in a good mood today.
3. 彼女のことが気になります。 I can't stop thinking about her.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, emotions, health

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Chinese 氣, originally depicting steam rising from cooking rice. The concept of 気 encompasses life energy, atmosphere, and the invisible forces that influence mood and health.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal