Mnemonic
A towering hat sits atop the grand imperial gate. A mouth carved in stone bellows royal decrees from within, while little servants scurry through the streets below carrying out every order. This magnificent city can only be the capital.
Additional thoughts
Visualize the kanji top-down: the hat is the palace roof crowning everything, the mouth is the central hall where proclamations echo, and the little strokes are the tiny people bustling at the base. The whole structure looks like a grand, towering city.Quick recall
A hat crowns the gate, a mouth bellows decrees, little servants rush below — it's the capital.Details
The keyword for 京 is capital. This kanji refers to a capital city, particularly the seat of government and imperial power. In ancient East Asia, the capital was the grandest and most important city in the realm, serving as the political, cultural, and economic center. The character historically evokes the image of a large, imposing city where the emperor resides, and it is closely associated with cities like Kyoto and Tokyo (Eastern Capital) in Japan.
- On'yomi
- きょう、けい、きん
- Kun'yomi
- みやこ