Meaning
The kanji 吉 (pronounced キチ or キツ in on'yomi, and よし in kun'yomi) means good luck, fortune, and auspiciousness. Few characters are as deeply embedded in Japanese daily life — 吉 appears on shrine fortune slips, in ceremonial language, on wedding calendars, and throughout personal names across the country.
Structurally, 吉 combines 士 (a scholar, warrior, or person of virtue) on top with 口 (mouth) below. Classical interpretations read this as the words of a virtuous person: when a wise individual speaks, their words carry fortune for those who listen. An alternative etymology links the upper element to an ancient pictograph of a sheathed weapon — when arms are put away, peace reigns, and peace itself is the greatest fortune.
With only 6 strokes, 吉 is compact and easy to write. It is classified as a secondary school (高校) kanji in Japan's Jōyō system and also listed among the 人名用漢字 — characters approved for use in personal names. That explains why 吉 turns up in surnames like 吉田 (Yoshida) and 吉本 (Yoshimoto), and in place names like 吉野 (Yoshino) in Nara Prefecture. Its N1 JLPT rating reflects formal and literary usage patterns, not any difficulty in writing the character.
御神籤 — the paper fortune slips drawn at Shinto shrines — is where most people first encounter 吉 in practice, especially during the New Year season. Rankings run from 大吉 (great fortune) at the top, through 中吉 (middle fortune) and 小吉 (small fortune), before descending through various grades of 凶 (misfortune). Anyone who has visited a Japanese shrine at New Year has almost certainly seen 吉 printed in bold on one of these slips.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
吉 has two on'yomi readings: キチ (kichi) and キツ (kitsu). Both trace back to ancient Chinese pronunciation and appear in Sino-Japanese compound words. Which reading a given word uses is something to learn compound by compound — both remain active in modern Japanese.
キチ (kichi) is the more common reading today, covering most everyday vocabulary for luck and auspicious occasions:
大吉 (daikichi) — great fortune; the most auspicious result on a shrine fortune slip
吉日 (kichijitsu) — auspicious day; a favorable calendar date chosen for ceremonies, weddings, or house moves
中吉 (chuukichi) — middle fortune; a solidly positive result on an omikuji slip
キツ (kitsu) tends toward formal and literary compounds. A useful signal: it often triggers a geminate consonant (っ) before the next syllable:
不吉 (fukitsu) — unlucky, ominous, inauspicious; the direct negation of good fortune
吉凶 (kikkyou) — fortune and misfortune; the full spectrum of fate in a single phrase
吉兆 (kicchou) — good omen; a favorable sign pointing to good things ahead
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The kun'yomi reading of 吉 is よし (yoshi). Unlike most kanji, 吉 produces little standalone vocabulary in its native reading — よし appears almost entirely in proper nouns: personal names and geographical place names. This is characteristic of 人名用漢字, and it's a main reason 吉 sits at N1 despite its simple six-stroke form.
吉田 (Yoshida) — one of Japan's most common surnames; the characters suggest a lucky or fertile rice paddy
吉野 (Yoshino) — a historically significant region in Nara Prefecture, renowned for its cherry blossoms
吉本 (Yoshimoto) — a widespread surname; also the name of Japan's largest comedy and entertainment company
Common Words & Compounds
吉 appears in compound words ranging from omikuji rankings to formal announcements to well-known place names. The entries below are grouped by theme.
Fortune Divination — Omikuji Rankings
大吉 (daikichi) — great fortune; the highest result on a shrine fortune slip, greeted with joy
中吉 (chuukichi) — middle fortune; a reassuring and positive omikuji outcome
小吉 (shoukichi) — small fortune; modestly favorable, still considered lucky
吉凶 (kikkyou) — fortune and misfortune; the two poles of fate in one phrase
Auspicious Events & Positive Announcements
吉日 (kichijitsu) — auspicious day; a favorable date selected for weddings, ceremonies, or important beginnings
吉報 (kippou) — good news, good tidings; a formal term for a welcome announcement
吉兆 (kicchou) — good omen; a favorable sign pointing toward future success
吉事 (kichiji) — auspicious occasion; a joyous or ceremonially significant event
Auspiciousness as a Broader Concept
吉祥 (kisshou) — good luck, auspiciousness; an elevated term used in blessings and ceremonial contexts
吉祥文様 (kisshou mon'you) — auspicious decorative patterns; traditional motifs found in Japanese textiles, ceramics, lacquerware, and paintings
Negative Contrast
- 不吉 (fukitsu) — unlucky, ominous; a bad sign pointing toward misfortune
Proper Names — Place & Person
吉田 (Yoshida) — one of Japan's most recognized surnames, found across all regions
吉野 (Yoshino) — the famous area in Nara Prefecture known for thousands of cherry trees blooming each spring
吉祥寺 (Kichijoji) — a lively neighborhood in western Tokyo, often voted Japan's most desirable place to live
Example Sentences
お正月に神社でおみくじを引いたら、大吉が出た。
Oshougatsu ni jinja de omikuji wo hiitara, daikichi ga deta.
When I drew a fortune slip at the shrine on New Year's Day, I got great fortune.
結婚式には吉日を選ぶことが大切だと言われている。
Kekkonshiki ni wa kichijitsu wo erabu koto ga taisetsu da to iwarete iru.
It is said that choosing an auspicious day for a wedding is very important.
あの会社から吉報が届き、家族全員が喜んだ。
Ano kaisha kara kippou ga todoki, kazoku zen'in ga yorokonda.
Good news arrived from that company, and the whole family rejoiced.
黒い猫が前を横切るのは不吉だと信じる人もいる。
Kuroi neko ga mae wo yokogiru no wa fukitsu da to shinjiru hito mo iru.
Some people believe that a black cat crossing your path is a bad omen.
吉凶の判断は、文化によって大きく異なることがある。
Kikkyou no handan wa, bunka ni yotte ookiku kotonaru koto ga aru.
What counts as good or bad luck can vary greatly from culture to culture.
この地域では吉日を選んで引っ越しをするのが伝統だ。
Kono chiiki de wa kichijitsu wo erande hikkoshi wo suru no ga dentou da.
In this region, it's a tradition to pick an auspicious day when moving to a new home.
吉祥のシンボルは日本の伝統工芸に多く使われている。
Kisshou no shinboru wa Nihon no dentou kougei ni ooku tsukawareteiru.
Auspicious symbols appear throughout traditional Japanese crafts and decorative arts.
吉兆を感じた彼女は、その仕事の面接に臆せず挑んだ。
Kicchou wo kanjita kanojo wa, sono shigoto no mensetsu ni okusezu idonda.
Sensing a good omen, she walked into the job interview without hesitation.
彼の苗字は吉田といい、日本では非常によく見られる名前だ。
Kare no myouji wa Yoshida to ii, Nihon de wa hijou ni yoku mirareru namae da.
His family name is Yoshida — one of the most common surnames in Japan.
新年を迎えるにあたり、吉報が届くことを心から祈っている。
Shinnen wo mukaeru ni atari, kippou ga todoku koto wo kokoro kara inotte iru.
As the new year approaches, I'm praying with all my heart that good news will arrive.
Memory Tip
Picture the kanji 吉 as a triumphant scholar on a podium. The upper component 士 — a person of virtue, a warrior, or a learned scholar — stands with arms outstretched in victory. Below, 口 (mouth) is the platform underfoot, or the cheering crowd with open mouths celebrating. Wise words from a noble person. Good fortune follows.
Alternatively, the character looks like a trophy: a broad top balanced on a narrower base — the tangible reward of virtue. Next time you draw an omikuji at a shrine and see 大吉 in bold, picture that scholar on the podium, arms raised high.