工 Construction

Radical Combination

• 工

  Construction

Meaning

Primary

Construction

Alternative

Industry

Mnemonic

The construction radical and the construction kanji are the same!

This kanji also means industry, which is what construction is, if you think about it. It's all part of the construction industry.

Hints

Know your radicals and you'll know this kanji's meaning.

Readings

On’yomi

こう, く

Kun’yomi

None

Nanori

None

Mnemonic

For kanji that use the こう (there are a lot of them!) we will use the character こういち every time. He's one of the people who started this website, so we'll do our best in the mnemonics to embarrass him as much as possible. Anyways, remember that whenever you see こう, think こういち.

You see some construction in front of you. There, standing shirtless (only a suspender and hard hat) is (こういち), looking back at you.

Hints

If こういち as a construction worker standing in a construction site some how doesn't make your legs tremble, that's okay and totally normal. Do make sure you take this story to a ridiculous enough level to hook a memory into that brain of yours. Be mad at him for not following construction site regulations (where's his shirt, shoes, and pants!?). Why is he using that bulldozer like that?

Alternatively, say you really do like what you see (you're going to have to imagine a much better looking version of こういち's actual face, though). You and こういち make eye contact a little too long. He nods, puts his cigarette out, and takes off his hard hat, letting his long Fabio-esque locks flow. You beckon him over and he comes. What happens next is up to you and your own imagination. My guess is you have a very deep conversation about kanji and the best ways to learn it.

Hint: When you see 工 in a kanji it will often take the こう reading. Remember that, because it comes up quite a bit!