Meaning
Interest, entertainment, prosper, rise — often used in words about activities, revival, or excitement.
- 復興 — reconstruction, revival
- 興味 — interest
- 興奮 — excitement
- 新興 — rising, emerging
- 興業 — performance, entertainment business
The character 興 combines two drum-beating hands over a mortar (臼), suggesting raising something or reviving an action. It’s used for excitement, flourishing, and bringing things back to life.
日本は 戦後に 急速に 復興した。
Japan rapidly recovered after the war.
歴史に 興味があります。
I’m interested in history.
The on-yomi コウ and キョウ appear in compound words like 復興 (ふっこう) and 興味 (きょうみ). The kun-yomi おこる and おこす are less common but still appear in literary contexts.