Kanji N1

故: happenstance, especially, intentionally

故 is a JLPT N1 kanji meaning happenstance, especially, intentionally, written with 9 strokes. It is read コ (on) and ゆえ, ふるい, もと (kun). Children in Japan learn it in grade 5. You will see it in 事故 (じこ, accident) and 故障 (こしょう, fault).

故

Meanings

  • happenstance
  • especially
  • intentionally
  • reason
  • cause
  • circumstances
  • the late
  • therefore
  • consequently
Strokes9
JLPT levelN1
School gradeGrade 5
Frequency#612 of 2,500

On reading · Kun reading

On reading
  • コ

On'yomi: from Chinese, written in katakana. Used in compound words.

Kun reading
  • ゆえ
  • ふるい
  • もと

Kun'yomi: native Japanese, in hiragana. The faint part is the okurigana, written in kana after the kanji.

Watch the stroke order

Every stroke in order, the live one in vermilion. Replay as often as you like.

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Now draw it

Trace each stroke in order. Wrong direction or wrong order gets flagged right away.

1234567890 / 9

Your turn: draw stroke 1 of 9. Start at the dot.

Common words with 故

The most useful words written with it, easiest first. Every other kanji in them opens its own page.

  • 事故じこ

    accident; incident; trouble

    JLPT N4
  • 故障こしょう

    fault; trouble; breakdown; failure

    JLPT N4
  • 故人こじん

    the deceased; the departed

    JLPT N1
  • 何故なぜ

    why; how; for what reason

    JLPT N5
  • 故郷こきょう

    hometown; birthplace; native place

    JLPT N3
  • 何故ならなぜなら

    because; the reason is; if you want to know why

    JLPT N3
  • 故こ

    the late; the deceased

    JLPT N1
  • 其れ故それゆえ

    therefore; for that reason; so; because of that

    JLPT N1

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Stroke order from KanjiVG © Ulrich Apel, CC BY-SA 3.0. Readings, meanings and words from KANJIDIC2 and JMdict, names from JMnedict, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA 4.0, and Wikidata, CC0. JLPT lists after Jonathan Waller (tanos.co.uk), CC BY.