Japanese word

己

Pronunciation

Romajionore

Meaning

  • pronounyourself

Example

まず己を知ることが大切です。ma zu onore o shi ru ko to ga tai setsu de su

First, it is important to know yourself.

Illustration for 己 (yourself)

More examples

師は若者に己の失敗から学ぶよう伝えました。shi wa waka mono ni onore no ship pai ka ra mana bu yō tsuta e ma shi ta

The teacher told the young person to learn from their own mistakes.

Core concept

Points directly to the person who is acting or being discussed as that person's own self.

Common phrases

  • 己を知るonore o shi ru

    know yourself

  • 己を磨くonore o miga ku

    improve yourself

Similar words

自分jibun: The person understood as the speaker's or another person's own self in ordinary language.

Definition in Japanese

自分自身を指していう語。ji bun ji shin o sa shi te i u go

Word origin

己 (onore, "self") is a native Japanese word; its written form uses the Chinese character 己 (ki, "self"), chosen for its meaning rather than its sound.

Usage tips

  • In modern conversation, 己 (onore) often sounds archaic or literary, while 自分 (jibun) is the usual everyday word for "oneself".

Word lists with this word