Meaning
歓 (カン) carries the core meaning of joy, delight, pleasure, and welcome. It describes a deep, celebratory kind of happiness — not quiet contentment, but the exuberant enthusiasm felt at a festive gathering, a triumphant moment, or a heartfelt reunion. In modern Japanese, 歓 rarely appears on its own; it almost always works as a component within compound words (熟語, jukugo), lending a sense of elation, warmth, and social celebration to the overall meaning.
Etymologically, 歓 is the simplified form (新字体, shinjitai) of the traditional character 歡. It is composed of two parts: the left component, derived historically from 雚 — a character representing a water bird known for its distinctive calls — and the right component 欠, which in many kanji signals an open mouth, a yawn, or breath in expressive motion. The combination evokes a creature throwing open its mouth in a joyful cry — vocal, unrestrained happiness bursting outward as sound. That image is exactly what 歓 captures: a joy too strong to stay silent, one that spills into celebration, cheering, and warm welcome.
歓 has 15 strokes and is classified as a Joyo kanji assigned to the secondary school level in Japan. At the JLPT N1 level, the kanji appears regularly in business communications, ceremonial speeches, newspaper editorials, and literary prose. A solid grasp of 歓 is necessary for reading vocabulary related to social celebration, diplomatic reception, and interpersonal warmth in advanced Japanese.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
歓 has one primary on'yomi reading: カン. Derived from Middle Chinese pronunciation, this reading appears in the vast majority of compound words featuring this kanji. カン signals emotional tones of joy, welcome, or celebration, and the compounds built from it tend to appear in formal registers, ceremonial contexts, and written language. For JLPT N1 candidates, this is the reading to focus on — 歓 almost never appears in isolation in modern Japanese.
- 歓迎 (kangei) — welcome, warm reception
- 歓喜 (kanki) — ecstatic joy, jubilation
- 歓声 (kansei) — cheer, joyful shout
- 歓談 (kandan) — pleasant, relaxed conversation
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
歓 also carries a kun'yomi reading of よろこ(ぶ), meaning "to rejoice" or "to be delighted." This reading is archaic and extremely rare in modern usage. In classical Japanese literature (古文, kobun), よろこぶ is occasionally written as 歓ぶ, but contemporary Japanese uses 喜ぶ almost exclusively for this purpose. Everyday reading and JLPT examinations focus primarily on the on'yomi and its compounds; running into the kun'yomi in modern written Japanese is unusual.
- 歓ぶ (yorokobu) — to rejoice, to be glad (archaic/literary usage)
Common Words & Compounds
歓 appears across a range of compound words dealing with social warmth, public celebration, ceremonial welcome, and interpersonal joy. The compounds below cover the vocabulary most relevant for JLPT N1 learners and advanced students of Japanese.
Welcoming and Ceremony
- 歓迎 (kangei) — welcome, warm reception; the most common compound, used in expressions like 歓迎会 (welcome party) and 歓迎する (to welcome)
- 歓待 (kantai) — warm hospitality, cordial treatment of guests; implies an especially generous and attentive reception
- 歓送 (kansō) — a celebratory send-off; farewell marked by well-wishing and festivity
- 歓送迎 (kansōgei) — combined farewell and welcome ceremonies, common in Japanese workplaces when staff change over
Expressions of Joy and Emotion
- 歓喜 (kanki) — ecstatic joy, jubilation; more intense than everyday 喜び, often found in literary or formal contexts
- 歓声 (kansei) — cheer, shout of joy; the collective or individual exclamation of delight at a stadium, ceremony, or celebratory moment
- 歓呼 (kanko) — acclamation, enthusiastic cheering in unison; carries a more formal and ceremonial tone than 歓声
- 歓楽 (kanraku) — pleasure, amusement, enjoyment; often found in literary or formal contexts describing worldly pleasures
Social Interaction and Favor
- 歓談 (kandan) — pleasant, relaxed conversation between friends, colleagues, or diplomatic partners; implies a warm and mutually enjoyable exchange
- 歓心 (kanshin) — goodwill, favor; most commonly encountered in the set phrase 歓心を買う (to curry favor, to win someone over)
- 交歓 (kōkan) — mutual exchange of courtesies; friendly interchange between groups, organizations, or nations
Example Sentences
新入社員の歓迎会は来週の金曜日に行われます。
Shinnyū shain no kangei-kai wa raishū no kin'yōbi ni okonawaremasu.
The welcome party for new employees will be held next Friday.
観客は選手の勝利に大きな歓声を上げた。
Kankyaku wa senshu no shōri ni ōkina kansei wo ageta.
The audience erupted in loud cheers at the athlete's victory.
彼女は合格の知らせを聞いて歓喜した。
Kanojo wa gōkaku no shirase wo kiite kanki shita.
She was overcome with joy when she heard the news that she had passed.
大統領は空港で盛大な歓迎を受けた。
Daitōryō wa kūkō de seidai na kangei wo uketa.
The president received a grand welcome at the airport.
両国の代表は夕食を囲んで歓談した。
Ryōkoku no daihyō wa yūshoku wo kakonde kandan shita.
The representatives of both countries engaged in friendly conversation over dinner.
群衆は英雄の帰還を歓呼で迎えた。
Gunshū wa eiyū no kikan wo kanko de mukaeta.
The crowd welcomed the hero's return with enthusiastic cheers of acclamation.
彼は上司の歓心を買おうとして、いつも残業している。
Kare wa jōshi no kanshin wo kaō to shite, itsumo zangyō shite iru.
He is always staying late, trying to win his boss's favor.
退職する先輩のために歓送会を開いた。
Taishoku suru senpai no tame ni kansō-kai wo hiraita.
We held a farewell party for our senior colleague who was retiring.
二国間の交歓プログラムを通じて、友好関係が一層深まった。
Nikokukan no kōkan puroguramu wo tōjite, yūkō kankei ga issō fukamatta.
Through the bilateral exchange program, the friendly relations between the two countries deepened even further.
Memory Tip
To remember 歓, picture a bird throwing its beak wide open to cry out in pure joy. The right side of the kanji, 欠, shows an open mouth — the same element you can find in 歌 (song) and 欠く (to lack). The left component traces back to 雚, an ancient character representing a bird known for its expressive calls. Together, the image is unmistakable: a creature so overcome with delight that it opens its mouth and cries out, unrestrained and joyful. Whenever you encounter 歓, recall that bird — head thrown back, beak wide open, singing its celebration to the world. That open, vocal, communal joy is exactly what 歓 means: a happiness that bursts outward and invites others to share in it.