甲

Turtle Shell

Stroke count: 5

Readings

On readingコウ、カン

Kun readingきのえ、よろい、かぶと

JLPT level: N1 Jōyō Grade 8Level 39

Meanings

turtle Shell
a grade
armorRtK
carapace
first class
former
high (voice)
instep

Synonyms

Homonyms

ⓘ

Same reading (こう)

Radicals and components

Radical田field

Components

How it's built

甲

Mnemonic (RtK)

ⓘ

armour · roots

From "Remembering the Kanji" by James Heisig · Frame 1194

Compound words

甲乙こうおつ

first and second; A and B; superiority and (or) inferiority; distinction (in quality); discernment

甲種こうしゅ

A-grade; first-class

甲斐かい

result (that makes an act worthwhile); worth (in doing something); value; effect; use

装甲そうこう

armoring; armouring; armor; armour

Koshien Stadium (baseball park in Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture); National High School Baseball Tournament (held annually in August at Koshien Stadium); Summer Koshien; National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament (held annually in March at Koshien Stadium); Spring Koshien

Wood Tiger (51st term of the sexagenary cycle, e.g. 1914, 1974, 2034)

甲冑かっちゅう

armor and helmet

甲戌きのえいぬ

Wood Dog (11th term of the sexagenary cycle, e.g. 1934, 1994, 2054)

甲胄かっちゅう

armor and helmet

挂甲けいこう

armor made from small iron plates bound by leather cords (from Kofun to Nara periods)

鼈甲べっこう

tortoiseshell (of the hawksbill turtle)

On Reading Examples

船には甲板が３つあった。かんぱん

The ship had three decks.tatoeba

甲の薬は乙の毒。こう

One man's medicine is another man's poison.tatoeba

甲の損は乙の得。こう

One man's gain is another man's loss.tatoeba

甲の食物は乙の毒。こう

One man's meat is another man's poison.tatoeba

Additional Examples

彼は不快な甲高い声の持ち主だ。

He had an unpleasant screechy voice.tatoeba

突然彼女は甲高い声で叫び出した。

All at once she began to shout in a shrill voice.tatoeba

長生きの秘訣は、生き甲斐を持つ事だそうだ。

It is said that the secret of long life is to have something to live for.tatoeba

朝が明けると彼らは甲板に出ていた。

Morning found them on deck.tatoeba

Stroke Order

5 strokes

Shell, armor; 'first' (A in a list). The shape is a shell or shield with a handle: a hard covering.

Practice Writing

Practice Writing 甲

Draw with a guide, then from memory — checked at every step