構

音読おんよみ: コウ

訓読くんよみ: かまえる・かまう

画数かくすう: 14 strokes

部首ぶしゅ: 木(きへん)

Meaning

Status, rank, character, format — a kanji used in terms like qualification or personality.


  • かまえる — to set up; to position oneself
  • かまう — to care; to mind
  • 構成こうせい — composition; structure
  • 構造こうぞう — structure; construction
  • 構図こうず — composition (of an image)
  • 構想こうそう — concept; idea
  • 構内こうない — premises; campus

This character combines 木 (tree) and 冓 (an old form related to assembling). The original meaning was to build something by joining wood together, later expanding to abstract uses like “structure,” “format,” or “take position.” It can also mean “to care” or “to mind” someone’s actions, showing the flexibility of its use.

彼はいえかまえて、しずかにらしている。
He built a house and lives quietly.

そんなこと、かまうな。
Don’t worry about that.

Common on-yomi is コウ, as seen in words like 構成 and 構造. The kun-yomi かまえる and かまう are also frequently used in both written and spoken Japanese.

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