故: the kanji for reason; late (deceased); old
故 is a JLPT N1 kanji that means reason; late (deceased); old. Below are its readings, 5 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
故 is written in 9 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
故 has 2 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 5 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
コ (ko)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 事故じこ · jiko | accident |
| 故郷こきょう · kokyō | hometown |
| 故障こしょう · koshō | breakdown; malfunction |
| 故人こじん · kojin | the deceased |
ゆえ (yue)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 故にゆえに · yue ni | therefore |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 道で交通事故があった。Michi de kōtsū jiko ga atta.There was a traffic accident on the road.
- お盆に故郷へ帰る。Obon ni kokyō e kaeru.I go back to my hometown for Obon.
- エレベーターが故障している。Erebētā ga koshō shite iru.The elevator is out of order.
- …故人をしのんで皆で集まった。Kojin o shinonde mina de atsumatta.We gathered to remember the deceased.
- 我思う、故に我あり。Ware omou, yue ni ware ari.I think, therefore I am.
Questions about 故
How many strokes does 故 have?
故 is written in 9 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 故?
The on readings are ko (コ). The kun readings are yue (ゆえ).
What JLPT level is 故?
N1. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N1 is designed to match the former Level 1.
More JLPT N1 kanji
People and relationships
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 故
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.