吉
Mnemonic
A gentleman steps up to the shrine and opens his mouth to read the fortune paper aloud: 'Good Luck!' His voice rings across the courtyard. Every time this gentleman's mouth announces a blessing, it truly comes to pass — people line up for miles just to hear him speak their fate.
Additional thoughts
Picture the gentleman standing tall (士) on top, with the mouth (口) below — he literally speaks fortune into existence. The visual of someone reading a shrine fortune aloud locks the meaning in.Quick recall
A gentleman opens his mouth at the shrine and announces Good Luck for all.Details
The keyword for 吉 is good luck. This kanji conveys the idea of auspiciousness, fortune, and favorable outcomes. It represents things that are propitious or blessed, often used in contexts related to divination, celebrations, and wishes for happiness and prosperity. In Japanese culture, it is commonly encountered at shrines and temples where fortunes are drawn, with 吉 indicating a positive or fortunate result.
- On'yomi
- きち、きつ
- Kun'yomi
- よし