Meaning
奇 covers a cluster of related meanings: strange, odd, unusual, wonderful, and rare. The common thread is deviation — things that fall outside what anyone would normally predict. A sudden miracle and an eccentric neighbor can both be described with 奇, as can a plot twist no one saw coming. Depending on context, the character leans toward mystical wonder (miracles, marvels) or plain strangeness (peculiar behavior, an offbeat personality). Either way, 奇 marks the moment something collides with the unexpected.
In mathematics, 奇 means odd number — 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and their kind. The logic mirrors the core meaning: an odd number cannot pair up evenly, just as a strange event refuses to fit the expected pattern of the world.
Etymologically, 奇 is an ideographic compound. The lower element 大 depicts a person with arms outstretched. The upper portion adds phonetic and semantic weight. Some scholars associate it with bending or leaning, evoking someone off-balance or standing at an odd angle. Together, the structure suggests a figure that is striking precisely because they don't quite fit.
奇 has 8 strokes and is a high-school level (高校) Joyo kanji, listed on the JLPT N1 exam. Its radical is 大 (big/large), the 37th Kangxi radical, grouping it with characters connected to scale and the human form.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The on'yomi is キ (ki) — the reading you will use almost exclusively. It appears in virtually all compound words (熟語 jukugo) containing this kanji and turns up across formal writing, literature, news articles, and everyday conversation. The kun'yomi reading is uncommon enough that many native speakers rarely encounter it outside literary contexts.
- 奇妙 (kimyō) — strange, peculiar, mysterious
- 奇跡 (kiseki) — miracle, wonder
- 奇数 (kisū) — odd number
- 好奇心 (kōkishin) — curiosity, inquisitiveness
- 奇抜 (kibatsu) — eccentric, novel, unconventional
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The kun'yomi く.し (ku.shi) is rare in modern Japanese, surviving mainly in classical literature and a handful of set expressions. Its best-known form is the adverb 奇しくも (kushiku mo) — "strangely enough" or "by a strange coincidence." It carries a poetic, slightly archaic register and still appears in formal speeches and literary prose when the writer wants to mark a remarkable twist of fate.
- 奇しくも (kushiku mo) — strangely enough, by a strange coincidence
- 奇しき縁 (kushiki en) — a mysterious bond or fate (literary/classical)
Common Words & Compounds
奇 spans a wider range of territory than you might expect — wonder, strangeness, military strategy, mathematics, and fate. The compounds below appear in news articles, literary fiction, and academic writing alike.
Wonder & Miracles:
- 奇跡 (kiseki) — miracle, wonder
- 奇跡的 (kisekiteki) — miraculous
- 奇観 (kikan) — spectacular sight, wondrous scene
- 奇遇 (kigū) — strange coincidence, unexpected meeting
Strangeness & Peculiarity:
- 奇妙 (kimyō) — strange, peculiar, mysterious
- 奇怪 (kikai) — bizarre, eerie, suspicious
- 奇異 (kii) — odd, queer, outlandish
- 奇抜 (kibatsu) — unconventional, novel, eccentric
- 珍奇 (chinki) — rare and curious, novel and strange
Talent & Ability:
- 奇才 (kisai) — rare talent, prodigy, genius
- 奇特 (kitoku) — admirable, praiseworthy (older usage can also mean eccentric)
Strategy & Tactics:
- 奇襲 (kishū) — surprise attack, ambush
- 奇策 (kisaku) — brilliant stratagem, clever scheme
- 奇計 (kikei) — ingenious plan, clever trick
Mathematics:
- 奇数 (kisū) — odd number (1, 3, 5, 7, 9...)
Curiosity:
- 好奇心 (kōkishin) — curiosity, inquisitiveness
- 好奇 (kōki) — curiosity (as a noun or prefix)
Fate & Idioms:
- 数奇 (sūki) — eventful life, checkered fate
- 奇想天外 (kisō tengai) — out-of-this-world, fantastic and unexpected
Example Sentences
その映画は奇妙なストーリーで有名だ。
Sono eiga wa kimyō na sutōrī de yūmei da.
That movie is famous for its strange story.
奇跡が起きたとみんなが信じた。
Kiseki ga okita to minna ga shinjita.
Everyone believed that a miracle had occurred.
彼は奇抜なファッションで街を歩いた。
Kare wa kibatsu na fasshon de machi wo aruita.
He walked through town in unconventional clothes.
子供の頃から好奇心が旺盛だった。
Kodomo no koro kara kōkishin ga ōsei datta.
She has had a strong curiosity since childhood.
軍は奇襲によって敵を破った。
Gun wa kishū ni yotte teki wo yabutta.
The army defeated the enemy through a surprise attack.
奇しくも、二人は同じ誕生日だった。
Kushiku mo, futari wa onaji tanjōbi datta.
Strangely enough, the two of them shared the same birthday.
奇数と偶数を区別することは数学の基本だ。
Kisū to gūsū wo kubetsu suru koto wa sūgaku no kihon da.
Distinguishing odd from even numbers is a basic concept in mathematics.
彼女の奇才は幼い頃から周囲を驚かせた。
Kanojo no kisai wa osanai koro kara shūi wo odorokaseta.
Her rare genius amazed those around her from a young age.
奇想天外なアイデアが会議の場を驚かせた。
Kisō tengai na aidea ga kaigi no ba wo odorokaseta.
An out-of-this-world idea astonished everyone in the meeting.
その怪現象は奇怪で、科学では説明できなかった。
Sono kaigenshō wa kikai de, kagaku de wa setsumei dekinakatta.
That strange phenomenon was so bizarre that science could not explain it.
Memory Tip
Picture the 大 at the bottom of 奇 — a person standing with arms wide open. Now imagine that person doing something completely off: mismatched clothes, a lopsided stance, an action nobody predicted. That off-kilter figure is exactly what 奇 captures.
The mathematical meaning follows the same logic. An odd number cannot find a matching pair — just like this peculiar person who doesn't fit the expected order of things.
For key compounds: 好奇心 (kōkishin) breaks down as "love (好) + strange (奇) + heart (心)" — curiosity is the heart that loves what's out of the ordinary. And 奇跡 (kiseki)? Think "key secret" — a miracle is the universe's one secret that defies all explanation.