Meaning
The kanji 均 (kin) represents the core concepts of "equal," "even," "level," and "average." It signifies a state where things are balanced, uniformly distributed, or brought to a common standard. You'll frequently encounter this kanji in mathematics, statistics, economics, and everyday situations that demand fairness, standardization, or a balanced condition.
Its etymology offers a deeper understanding of these meanings. 均 is a phono-semantic compound: it combines a component suggesting its meaning (semantic) with another hinting at its sound (phonetic). The left-hand component, 土 (tsuchihen), is the "earth" radical. This often provides a semantic clue related to land, ground, or physical matter. The right-hand component is 匀 (yún in Chinese), which acts as the phonetic element. Interestingly, 匀 also carries its own meaning of "even," "uniform," or "well-balanced." Visually, 匀 depicts something evenly distributed or having a balanced, consistent form.
When 土 (earth) and 匀 (even/uniform) are combined, they powerfully evoke the idea of "leveling the earth" or making the ground smooth and uniform. Imagine the effort involved in preparing a field for cultivation, where the soil must be flattened and smoothed. This visual and conceptual connection underlies the broader meanings of equality, average, and balance. Just as earth is made level for construction or agriculture, 均 signifies the act or state of making things equal, uniform, or consistent across a given set or area. It embodies a desired state of fairness and equilibrium.
The kanji 均 has 7 strokes. It is a Jōyō Kanji (常用漢字), meaning it's among the characters designated for common use in official documents and media. Unlike many Jōyō Kanji, however, it's not specifically assigned to an elementary school grade. This suggests it's typically learned by junior high school students or later as part of general literacy development. For categorization purposes, its grade level is often indicated as 0, signifying that it's not a primary school-grade kanji but still fundamental for fluent Japanese communication.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The primary On'yomi (Chinese-derived reading) for 均 is キン (Kin). This reading is very common and almost exclusively appears in compound words, where it conveys the core meanings of "equality," "uniformity," "average," or "balance." It's a highly productive reading, forming numerous nouns and adverbial phrases central to these concepts.
**キン (Kin)** — This reading is crucial for understanding terms across various fields that describe a state of evenness or balance.平均 (heikin) — average; mean. This is perhaps the most common compound word using 均, referring to the sum of values divided by their count. It's used daily in conversations about statistics, scores, or typical conditions, such as 平均気温 (average temperature) or 平均点 (average score).
均等 (kintō) — equality; uniformity; evenness. This term describes situations where things are distributed or treated equally, ensuring no disparities or preferential treatment. For example, 機会均等 (kikai kintō) means "equal opportunity."
均一 (kin'itsu) — uniformity; equality (in quality, price, etc.). Often seen in commercial settings, such as 均一価格 (kin'itsu kakaku) meaning "uniform price" or "one price for all items," indicating consistent pricing or quality across products.
均衡 (kinkō) — balance; equilibrium. This refers to a stable state where opposing forces, elements, or influences are proportional and harmonious, such as 財政均衡 (zaisei kinkō) for "fiscal balance."
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
While 均 doesn't have a frequently used standalone Kun'yomi, it appears in specific verb and adjective forms with okurigana (送り仮名) suffixes. These readings directly reflect the kanji's foundational meaning by conveying actions related to leveling, smoothing, or making things equal.
**なら-す (narasu)** — This reading comes from the transitive verb <ruby>均す<rt>ならす</rt></ruby> (narasu), meaning "to level," "to smooth," "to even out," or "to average." It describes the physical action of making something flat or uniform, or the mathematical action of calculating an average value.地面を均す (jimen o narasu) — to level the ground. This example directly relates to the kanji's original visual and semantic roots.
能力を均す (nōryoku o narasu) — to equalize abilities (e.g., through training or redistributing tasks to ensure consistent skill levels).
**ひと-しい (hitoshii)** — This reading comes from the adjective <ruby>均しい<rt>ひとしい</rt></ruby> (hitoshii), meaning "equal," "identical," or "similar." Although more commonly written as <ruby>等しい<rt>ひとしい</rt></ruby>, <ruby>均しい<rt>ひとしい</rt></ruby> is an older or less frequently encountered alternative that precisely conveys the sense of equality. It emphasizes an inherent state of being the same.二つの値は互いに均しい (futatsu no atai wa tagai ni hitoshii) — The two values are mutually equal.
彼と彼女の身長はほぼ均しい (kare to kanojo no shinchō wa hobo hitoshii) — His and her heights are almost equal.
Common Words & Compounds
The kanji 均 is a vital component in many Japanese words, particularly those dealing with measurement, distribution, balance, and standardization. Understanding these compounds is essential for a complete grasp of 均 in various contexts. Below is a selection of common compounds, categorized by their thematic usage:
General Concepts of Equality and Balance
平均 (heikin) — average; mean. This is perhaps the most widely used compound, appearing in everything from daily weather reports (平均気温 - average temperature) to school grades (平均点 - average score).
均等 (kintō) — equality; uniformity; evenness. It describes fair and evenly distributed situations, emphasizing a lack of favoritism or disparity.
機会均等 (kikai kintō) — equal opportunity.
均一 (kin'itsu) — uniformity; equality (in quality, price, etc.). This term is very common in retail and manufacturing, indicating consistent quality or pricing across products or services.
均衡 (kinkō) — balance; equilibrium. This is a more formal term, often used in economics, politics, or physics to describe a stable state where opposing forces are equal and harmonious.
不均衡 (fukinkō) — imbalance; disproportion. The direct opposite of 均衡, denoting a state of instability or unfair distribution.
Actions and States of Distribution
均す (narasu) — to level; to smooth; to average out. This verb describes the action of making something even, whether it's physical ground or abstract values.
均質 (kinshitsu) — homogeneity; uniform quality. Used to describe materials, products, or groups that have consistent properties throughout, lacking variation.
均整 (kinsei) — symmetry; good proportions; harmony. Often used in an aesthetic sense to describe pleasing balance and proportion in art, architecture, or the human body.
均分 (kinbun) — equal division; equal share. This refers to the act or result of dividing something into perfectly equal parts among multiple recipients.
Specific Applications and Specialized Terms
平均寿命 (heikin jumyō) — average lifespan; life expectancy. A key demographic indicator, expressing the average number of years a person is expected to live.
均田制 (kindensei) — equal-field system (a historical land redistribution system in East Asia). This historical term perfectly illustrates the concept of equally distributing land.
均圧 (kin'atsu) — equalization of pressure. A technical term used in physics or engineering, referring to the process of making pressure uniform.
Example Sentences
学生たちの平均点は今回、非常に高かったです。
Gakusei-tachi no heikinten wa konkai, hijō ni takakatta desu.
The students' average score was extremely high this time.
仕事の負担は全員に均等に分担されるべきだ。
Shigoto no futan wa zen'in ni kintō ni buntan sareru beki da.
The burden of work should be equally shared among everyone.
このスーパーは、すべての商品が均一価格で売られています。
Kono sūpā wa, subete no shōhin ga kin'itsu kakaku de urareteimasu.
In this supermarket, all products are sold at a uniform price.
環境と経済の均衡を保つことが重要です。
Kankyō to keizai no kinkō o tamotsu koto ga jūyō desu.
It is important to maintain a balance between the environment and the economy.
道路の表面を均すために、特別な機械が使用されました。
Dōro no hyōmen o narasu tame ni, tokubetsu na kikai ga shiyō saremashita.
Special machinery was used to level the road surface.
チームメンバー間での責任の不均衡は、問題を引き起こすでしょう。
Chīmu menbā kan de no sekinin no fukinkō wa, mondai o hikiokosu deshō.
An imbalance of responsibilities among team members will likely cause problems.
この製品は均質で、どの部分も同じ品質です。
Kono seihin wa kinshitsu de, dono bubun mo onaji hinshitsu desu.
This product is homogeneous, with the same quality throughout.
その画家は均整の取れた構図で、絵を描きました。
Sono gaka wa kinsei no toreta kōzu de, e o egakimashita.
That painter created a picture with a well-proportioned composition.
彼らは利益を均分することに同意しました。
Karera wa rieki o kinbun suru koto ni dōi shimashita.
They agreed to divide the profits equally.
世界の国々が、より平和で均等な発展を目指しています。
Sekai no kuniguni ga, yori heiwa de kintō na hatten o mezashiteimasu.
Countries around the world are aiming for more peaceful and equal development.
Memory Tip
To easily remember the kanji 均, visualize its two components. The left side is the radical 土 (do / tsuchi), meaning "earth" or "ground." The right side is 匀 (yún in Chinese), which itself means "even" or "uniform." Imagine a farmer or a construction worker meticulously working to make a patch of earth 土 perfectly even and uniform 匀—perhaps for planting crops or laying a foundation. This act of "leveling the earth" perfectly captures the essence of 均: to make things equal, even, or average. You can even picture the shape of 匀 as someone sweeping or distributing something evenly across a surface, bringing about a sense of balance. Thus, 均 means making things balanced, fair, and consistent, just like smoothing out the ground to ensure an even distribution.