Meaning
The kanji 交 (こう) primarily means “to cross,” “to mix,” “to associate with,” “to exchange,” and “to intersect.” It visually depicts two or more things coming together, overlapping, or interacting. At its core, it signifies mutual engagement and connection, whether through physical crossing, social interaction, or the exchange of ideas and objects. This concept also extends to communion, intercourse, and even negotiation—all stemming from the idea of entities meeting and interacting.
An ideograph, its ancient forms clearly depict two lines or legs crossing each other, illustrating the very act of intersection or coming into contact. This visual representation directly informs its modern meanings. For instance, think of two roads intersecting, people socializing, or ideas being exchanged—all these actions embody the essence of 交. Despite its simple form of just six strokes, its applications in Japanese are broad and deep. It's a crucial kanji for understanding various social and physical interactions. Taught in the second grade of Japanese elementary school (Grade 2), it consists of 6 strokes. Its radical is 乂, which itself signifies crossing.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The primary On'yomi for 交 is コウ (kō). This reading is very common and appears in a vast number of compound words, particularly those describing various forms of interaction, exchange, and crossing. When you see 交 in a compound word, it's almost always read as コウ, reflecting its Chinese origin.
- 交通 (kōtsū) — traffic, transportation (things crossing/passing)
- 交流 (kōryū) — exchange, interaction (flow crossing)
- 交渉 (kōshō) — negotiation, bargaining (discussion crossing)
- 外交 (gaikō) — diplomacy (external crossing/relations)
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The Kun'yomi readings of 交 are numerous, expressing the kanji's core meanings as verbs. They often appear with okurigana (送り仮名), the hiragana suffixes that complete the verb form. These readings emphasize the action of crossing, mixing, or associating, offering a distinctly Japanese linguistic perspective.
まじ.わる (maji.waru) — to cross, to intersect, to associate with (intransitive). Used when two things cross or people socialize.
道が交わる (michi ga majiwaru) — roads cross
彼と交わる (kare to majiwaru) — to associate with him
まじ.える (maji.eru) — to mix, to blend, to cross (transitive). Used when one actively mixes or involves something.
意見を交える (iken wo majieru) — to exchange opinions
手を交える (te wo majieru) — to cross swords (engage in combat/competition)
ま.ざる (ma.zaru) — to be mixed, to be blended (intransitive). Used when things naturally mix or are found together.
色が交ざる (iro ga mazaru) — colors mix (Note: While conceptually possible, this is more commonly written with 混 as 混ざる.)
ま.ぜる (ma.zeru) — to mix, to blend (transitive). Used when one actively mixes ingredients or elements.
物を交ぜる (mono wo mazeru) — to mix things (Note: Similar to まざる, this is more commonly written with 混 as 混ぜる.)
か.わす (ka.wasu) — to exchange, to cross (words, blows). Implies reciprocal action.
挨拶を交わす (aisatsu wo kawasu) — to exchange greetings
言葉を交わす (kotoba wo kawasu) — to exchange words
か.よう (ka.you) — to commute, to frequent. Implies regularly traveling back and forth.
学校に交う (gakkō ni kayou) — to commute to school
Common Words & Compounds
The kanji 交 is exceptionally versatile, forming a wide array of compound words that span various aspects of human interaction, movement, and exchange. Understanding these compounds is key to mastering the kanji in context.
Movement & Infrastructure
- 交通 (kōtsū) — traffic, transportation. Refers to the movement of people and vehicles.
- 交差点 (kōsaten) — intersection, crossroads. A point where roads cross.
- 交互 (kōgo) — alternately, mutually. Describes actions happening in sequence, one after another.
- 交番 (kōban) — police box. Historically, where police officers would 'cross' shifts.
Social Interaction & Relations
- 交流 (kōryū) — exchange (cultural, personal), interaction. Emphasizes flowing communication and mutual understanding.
- 交際 (kōsai) — association, friendship, dating. Refers to social relations, especially romantic ones.
- 社交 (shakō) — social life, social intercourse. Pertains to social interactions and manners.
- 外交 (gaikō) — diplomacy, foreign relations. The interaction between nations.
Exchange & Negotiation
- 交換 (kōkan) — exchange, swap. The act of giving and receiving.
- 交渉 (kōshō) — negotiation, discussions. The process of discussing to reach an agreement.
- 交易 (kōeki) — trade, commerce. Exchange of goods.
- 交替 (kōtai) — alternation, change, shift. Replacing one person or thing with another.
Example Sentences
毎日、駅まで自転車で交います。
Mainichi, eki made jitensha de kayoimasu.
Every day, I commute to the station by bicycle.
隣の国と文化交流を深めたいです。
Tonari no kuni to bunka kōryū wo fukametai desu.
I want to deepen cultural exchange with the neighboring country.
この道は大通りと交わる場所にあります。
Kono michi wa ōdōri to majiwaru basho ni arimasu.
This road is located where it intersects with the main street.
両者は意見を交え、最終的に合意に達しました。
Ryōsha wa iken wo majie, saishūteki ni gōi ni tasshimashita.
Both parties exchanged opinions and finally reached an agreement.
駅前の交番で道を尋ねました。
Ekimae no kōban de michi wo tazunemashita.
I asked for directions at the police box in front of the station.
交通ルールを守って、安全に運転しましょう。
Kōtsū rūru wo mamotte, anzen ni unten shimashō.
Let's follow traffic rules and drive safely.
仕事で多くの人と交際する機会があります。
Shigoto de ooku no hito to kōsai suru kikai ga arimasu.
I have many opportunities to associate with various people through work.
赤信号で交差点に止まる。
Akashingō de kōsaten ni tomaru.
Stop at the intersection at the red light.
彼らは互いに笑顔を交わしました。
Karera wa tagai ni egao wo kawashimashita.
They exchanged smiles with each other.
Memory Tip
To remember 交, visualize its ancient form: two legs or lines crossing each other, creating an 'X' shape. This immediately suggests the core meaning of 'crossing' or 'intersecting.' You can imagine two people crossing paths, leading to them 'mixing' or 'associating.' The top part resembles the radical 亠, which can be imagined as a 'top' or 'head.' The bottom part looks like a pair of legs stepping over each other. Imagine a person stepping over a line, crossing from one side to another. This simple visual cue effectively links the kanji's shape to its meanings of crossing, mixing, and interacting.