Meaning
寄 covers a cluster of related ideas: approaching, drawing near, gathering, sending, and contributing. The common thread is movement — something or someone drawing toward a destination, whether physically, emotionally, or through an act of giving.
Structurally, 寄 combines 宀 (a roof or shelter) on top with 奇 (strange, wondrous) below. Together, they suggest something unexpected finding its way under a roof — a traveler seeking shelter, a gift arriving at someone's door. That image maps onto 寄's two main senses: physical approach and the act of sending something to someone.
At 11 strokes, 寄 is a mid-complexity kanji introduced in Japanese elementary school at Grade 5. It sits at the N2 level in JLPT, where precise verb and compound knowledge matters. Once you know 寄, you'll spot it in donation boxes at convenience stores (寄付), dorm signs near universities (寄宿舎), and casual remarks about stopping somewhere on the way home (寄り道).
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The on'yomi of 寄 is キ (ki). It appears mainly in compound words (熟語) of Chinese origin and in formal or written Japanese, carrying the nuance of something entrusted, sent, or contributed to another party.
- 寄付 (kifu) — donation, contribution (money or goods given to a cause)
- 寄稿 (kikou) — contribution of an article or writing to a publication
- 寄宿 (kishuku) — boarding, lodging (literally "taking shelter under a roof")
- 寄生 (kisei) — parasitism (living off another organism)
- 寄贈 (kizou) — formal donation or presentation of an item as a gift
- 寄港 (kikou) — calling at a port, stopping over at a harbor
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The kun'yomi are よ・る (yo.ru) and よ・せる (yo.seru). Both are native Japanese verb forms. よる is intransitive — "to approach," "to stop by," or "to lean against." よせる is transitive — "to bring something near" or "to gather things together."
- 寄る (yoru) — to stop by, to approach, to lean against
- 寄せる (yoseru) — to bring close, to gather, to send toward
- 寄り道 (yorimichi) — a detour, stopping somewhere on the way
- 寄り添う (yorisou) — to snuggle up to, to stay close beside someone
- 近寄る (chikayoru) — to draw near, to approach closely
- 身寄り (miyori) — a relative, someone to depend on
Common Words & Compounds
寄 threads through daily life in more directions than most N2 kanji — from charity forms to biology textbooks. The compounds below are grouped by theme.
Charity & Giving
- 寄付 (kifu) — donation, monetary contribution to a cause or organization
- 寄贈 (kizou) — formal donation or presentation of an item
- 寄与 (kiyo) — contribution, service rendered to society or a group
Movement & Approach
- 寄り道 (yorimichi) — a detour or stop along the way home
- 近寄る (chikayoru) — to approach, to come closer
- 寄り添う (yorisou) — to cuddle up to, to be emotionally close to someone
Lodging & Gathering
- 寄宿 (kishuku) — boarding, lodging at a school or inn
- 寄宿舎 (kishukusha) — dormitory, boarding house
- 寄席 (yose) — traditional Japanese variety theater (rakugo hall)
Media & Writing
- 寄稿 (kikou) — contributing an article or essay to a publication
- 寄稿者 (kikousha) — contributor, person who submits writing
Biology & Relationships
- 寄生 (kisei) — parasitism, living off a host
- 寄生虫 (kiseichuu) — parasite (literally "approach-life insect")
- 身寄り (miyori) — relative, person one can rely on or turn to
Example Sentences
帰り道にコンビニに寄った。
Kaerimichi ni konbini ni yotta.
I stopped by a convenience store on the way home.
彼女は慈善団体に毎年寄付をしている。
Kanojo wa jizen dantai ni maitoshi kifu wo shite iru.
She donates to a charity organization every year.
子どもが母親に寄り添って眠った。
Kodomo ga hahaoya ni yorisotte nemutta.
The child snuggled up to their mother and fell asleep.
この雑誌に記事を寄稿したいのですが。
Kono zasshi ni kiji wo kikou shitai no desu ga.
I would like to contribute an article to this magazine.
猫がそっと近寄ってきた。
Neko ga sotto chikayotte kita.
The cat slowly crept closer.
その建物は市民からの寄贈によって建てられた。
Sono tatemono wa shimin kara no kizou ni yotte taterareta.
That building was constructed through donations from citizens.
彼には身寄りがいないので、一人で生活している。
Kare ni wa miyori ga inai node, hitori de seikatsu shite iru.
He has no relatives, so he lives alone.
寄生虫は宿主なしでは生きられない。
Kiseichuu wa shukushu nashi de wa ikirarenai.
Parasites cannot survive without a host.
学校の近くの寄宿舎に住んでいます。
Gakkou no chikaku no kishukusha ni sunde imasu.
I live in a dormitory near the school.
友達の家に寄ってから帰ります。
Tomodachi no ie ni yotte kara kaerimasu.
I'll stop by my friend's house before heading home.
Memory Tip
Picture a mysterious traveler (奇 = strange/wondrous) stepping under an inn's roof (宀) and handing over a donation for shelter. That single scene covers all three meanings of 寄: approaching, gathering belongings, and giving.
When you see 宀 sitting over 奇, picture that traveler at the door. For Vietnamese learners, the Hán-Việt reading KÝ links directly to familiar words: ký túc xá (dormitory = 寄宿舎) and ký sinh (parasite = 寄生).