気・氣|きki[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N4approx.Common
Which spelling to use
気気 is the most common written form and the recommended choice for beginners; it is written entirely in kanji.
氣氣 is a less common written variant using an outdated kanji; it appears less often than 気.
Definitions
  1. nounspirit; mind; heart
    彼かれは年としはとっているが気きは若わかい。↗
    Though he is old, he has a youthful spirit.
  2. nounnature; disposition
    彼かれは親切しんせつというよりむしろ気きがやさしい。↗
    He is more gentle than kind.
  3. nounintention; mind; will; motivationoft. after a verb
    もう待まつ気きが無なくなった。↗
    I don't feel like waiting any longer.
  4. nounmood; feelings
    人ひとに褒ほめられて悪わるい気きはしない。↗
    No one feels displeased when he is praised.
  5. nounconsciousness
  6. nouncare; attention; consideration; worry
    彼女かのじょは自分じぶんの容姿ようしにとても気きをつかっている。↗
    She cares a lot about her personal appearance.
  7. nouninterest
    彼かれは気きが多おおいやつだ。↗
    He's interested in many things.
  8. noun(the) air; atmosphere
  9. nounambience; atmosphere (of); air (of); mood
  10. nounfragrance; aroma; flavour; taste
  11. nounqi (in traditional Chinese philosophy and medicine); chi; ki
Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym気持ちきもちNeutralA concrete feeling or mood, as in 「気持ちがいい」; can stand alone, while 「気」 mostly appears in set phrases.
  • Synonym気分きぶんNeutralA momentary mood or state of mind, as in 「気分が悪い」; also covers feeling unwell. More focused on the here-and-now than 「気」.
  • Synonym気質きしつWrittenWritten/formal prose. Innate temperament; read 「かたぎ」, it means the shared character of a type of person, as in 「職人気質」— a clearer character-type word than 「気」.
  • Synonym気性きしょうNeutralAn inborn temper, as in 「気性が荒い」; centres on whether one is fiery or mild. More exclusively about character than 「気」.
  • Synonym気心きごころNeutralA person's disposition and way of thinking; mostly in 「気心が知れる」, meaning you know what someone is like — its collocations are fixed.
  • Synonym性分しょうぶんNeutralAn innate nature one cannot change, as in 「損な性分」; often used when explaining oneself apologetically.
  • Synonym心根こころねWrittenWritten/formal prose. One's deep-down nature, as in 「優しい心根」; centres on the goodness or badness of the heart — deeper than 「気」.
  • Synonym性根しょうねNeutralOne's fundamental character or grit, as in 「性根を叩き直す」; typical of scolding or disciplining.
  • Synonym心こころNeutralThe heart or mind in the broadest sense; stands alone, whereas 「気」 mostly appears in set phrases.
  • Synonym意気いきWrittenWritten/formal prose. An aggressive, go-getting spirit, as in 「意気込み」 and 「意気投合」; centres on drive, where 「気」 ranges far more widely.
  • Synonym感じかんじNeutralA feeling or impression, as in 「いい感じ」; centres on the overall impression of things outside, while 「気」 looks inward.
  • Synonym根性こんじょうNeutralGrit and perseverance, as in 「根性がある」; also one's basic nature. Stresses the will to hold out more than 「気」.
  • SynonymきっぷCasualColloquial. An open, easygoing character, as in 「気っ風がいい」; carries a hearty, generous nuance and is often used in praise.
  • Related思いおもいNeutralThe thoughts and feelings one holds, as in 「思いを伝える」; focuses on their content, while 「気」 is about one's state and leanings of mind.
  • Related性格せいかくNeutralStable character traits, as in 「明るい性格」; more objective than 「気」 and applicable to things as well as people.
  • Related質しつNeutralQuality or nature, as in 「質が高い」; centres on inherent quality of things and overlaps little with 「気」.
  • Related意いWrittenWritten/formal prose. Intention or one's mind, mostly in fixed phrases like 「意に介さない」 and 「意を決する」.

For mind and temperament, 「気」 mostly appears in set phrases such as 「気がする」 and 「気が強い」. Use 「心」 for the inner heart, 「気持ち」 for a concrete feeling, 「気分」 for a passing mood, and 「性格」 for character; the rest are narrower or register-bound.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese definitions
  1. (キ)原子げんし又または分子ぶんしが自由じゆうに動うごける物質ぶっしつの状態じょうたい、又またはその状態じょうたいにある物質ぶっしつ。気体きたい。
  2. (キ)人ひとの活力かつりょくなどの源みなもととなるとされる、不可視ふかしかつ流動的りゅうどうてきな仮想かそうの物体ぶったい。
  3. (キ)中国ちゅうごく哲学てつがく上じょうの用語ようごの一ひとつ。一般的いっぱんてきに不可視ふかしであり、流動的りゅうどうてきで運動うんどうし、作用さようをおこす。また、凝固ぎょうこして可視かし的てきな物質ぶっしつとなり、万物ばんぶつを構成こうせいする要素ようそともなるもの。
  4. (キ)心こころの状態じょうたい。意識いしき。意思いし。
  5. (キ)雰囲気ふんいき。
  6. (キ)飲み物のみものの風味ふうみ。炭酸たんさん。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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