遠く

• Reading: とおく
• Romaji: tooku
• Kanji breakdown: 遠 (too/en/on) — far, distant
• Pronunciation: /toː.kɯ/

Meaning

Far away; distant place; a great distance. A location that is not near.

Derived from the i-adjective 遠い (tooi, far/distant). As a noun, 遠く means 'a faraway place' or 'the distance.' Used with に (遠くに = in the distance) or から (遠くから = from far away). Can also function as an adverb meaning 'far' or 'distantly.'

Examples

1. 遠くに山が見えます。 I can see mountains in the distance.
2. 遠くから来てくれてありがとう。 Thank you for coming from so far away.
3. 遠くへ旅行に行きたいです。 I want to travel somewhere far away.

Usage Guide

Context: distance, travel, scenery

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Derived from the adjective 遠い (tooi), from Old Japanese. The kanji 遠 combines 辶 (road radical) and 袁 (a phonetic element meaning 'long garment'), suggesting a long road stretching into the distance.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal