Meaning
The kanji 故 (こ, ゆえ) carries a wide range of meanings, primarily 'cause,' 'reason,' 'circumstances,' 'old,' 'former,' and 'deceased.' It often refers to something that happened in the past, or a factor leading to a current situation. This blend of meanings—referring to both causality and antiquity—is key to understanding how 故 is used in Japanese.
Its etymological roots help us understand its usage. The character 故 is made up of two main components: 古 (こ, ふるい), meaning 'old' or 'ancient,' and 攴 (ぼくづくり). 攴 is a radical often found on the right side of characters, depicting a 'hand holding a stick' or 'to strike/tap.'
In this context, 攴 can symbolize action, change, or effect. Therefore, 故 can be interpreted as 'that which has been affected or changed by something old,' or 'that which has existed from old times and now leads to a result.' This combination gives rise to meanings such as 'reason' (what led to it), 'circumstances' (the old state of affairs), 'old/former' (past condition), and, sadly, 'deceased' (one who was formerly alive). Seeing this connection helps learners understand why a single kanji can represent such diverse, yet related, concepts.
The kanji 故 has 9 strokes and is taught in Grade 5 in Japanese elementary schools, indicating its relatively common and foundational use in the language.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The primary On'yomi reading for 故 is コ (ko). This reading comes from Chinese and is most frequently used when 故 is part of a compound word. It appears in words related to incidents, reasons, or states of being old or deceased, often carrying a more formal or objective nuance.
- 事故 (jiko) — meaning 'accident' or 'incident.' This is a very common word, referring to an unplanned event, often with negative consequences. For example, 交通事故 (kōtsū jiko) means 'traffic accident.'
- 故意 (koi) — meaning 'intention' or 'intentionally.' This compound highlights the 'reason' or 'cause' behind an action, specifically that it was deliberate. For example, 故意にやった (koi ni yatta) means 'did it intentionally.'
- 故障 (koshou) — meaning 'breakdown' or 'malfunction.' Here, 故 refers to the 'reason' or 'circumstances' causing something to be in a broken state. For instance, 機械が故障した (kikai ga koshō shita) means 'the machine broke down.'
- 故人 (kojin) — meaning 'the deceased' or 'the late (person).' In this context, 故 clearly signifies someone who was 'formerly alive' and has passed away. It is a respectful term used when referring to someone who has died.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The main Kun'yomi reading for 故 is ゆえ (yue). This reading often conveys a sense of 'reason,' 'cause,' or 'origin,' and tends to appear in more literary, formal, or archaic expressions. You'll also find it in specific compound words where it maintains its native Japanese feel.
- 故に (yue ni) — meaning 'therefore' or 'consequently.' This formal conjunction is often used in written language or academic contexts to express a logical conclusion. For example, 彼は優秀である。故に、この仕事を任せる。(Kare wa yūshū de aru. Yue ni, kono shigoto wo makaseru.) means 'He is excellent. Therefore, I will entrust him with this job.'
- 故あって (yue atte) — meaning 'for a certain reason' or 'with good reason.' This phrase suggests an underlying cause or circumstance, even if it's not explicitly stated. For example, 彼は故あって会社を辞めた (Kare wa yue atte kaisha wo yameta) means 'He left the company for a certain reason.'
- 故のない (yue no nai) — meaning 'without reason' or 'unreasonable.' This expression describes something that lacks a clear cause or justification. For instance, 故のない怒り (yue no nai ikari) means 'unreasonable anger.'
- 故郷 (furusato) — meaning 'hometown' or 'native place.' While 郷 (さと, go) means 'village' or 'hometown,' 故 (ふる) here emphasizes the 'old' or 'former' aspect, making it 'the old home.' This is a beloved and often emotionally resonant word in Japanese. Note that this compound can also be read with On'yomi as 故郷 (kokyō), with the same meaning.
Common Words & Compounds
The kanji 故 combines with many other characters to form a wide range of words. Each word reflects 故's core meanings of 'cause,' 'reason,' 'old,' or 'deceased.' Learning these compounds is essential for understanding the full scope of 故's usage.
Words related to Accidents and Malfunctions:
- 事故 (jiko) — accident, incident. (e.g., 人身事故 - jinshin jiko - personal injury accident)
- 故障 (koshou) — breakdown, malfunction, failure. (e.g., エンジン故障 - enjin koshou - engine failure)
- 変故 (henko) — an unusual event, accident, mishap.
Words related to Reasons and Intentions:
- 故意 (koi) — intention, intentionally, on purpose. (e.g., 故意に嘘をつく - koi ni uso wo tsuku - to lie intentionally)
- 故に (yue ni) — therefore, consequently, for that reason (formal).
- 故なく (yue naku) — without reason, without cause. (e.g., 故なく怒る - yue naku okoru - to get angry without reason)
- 何故 (naze) — why, for what reason (often written with 何 + 故, but read なぜ).
Words related to Past, Old, and Deceased:
- 故郷 (furusato) — hometown, native place (often evoking nostalgia).
- 故郷 (kokyou) — hometown, native place (more formal term).
- 故人 (kojin) — the deceased, the late (person). (e.g., 故人を偲ぶ - kojin wo shinobu - to mourn the deceased)
- 故老 (korou) — an old man, especially one with wisdom or experience, an elder.
- 旧故 (kyuuko) — old friend, old connection; old reason/cause.
Example Sentences
自転車が故障したので、駅まで歩きました。
Jitensha ga koshō shita node, eki made arukimashita.
Because my bicycle broke down, I walked to the station.
彼は故意に窓を割ったわけではない。
Kare wa koi ni mado wo watta wake de wa nai.
He didn't break the window intentionally.
大雨の故に、試合は中止になった。
Ōame no yue ni, shiai wa chūshi ni natta.
Due to the heavy rain, the game was cancelled.
故人を偲んで、みんなで黙祷を捧げました。
Kojin wo shinonde, minna de mokutō wo sasagemashita.
In memory of the deceased, everyone offered a moment of silent prayer.
この事件には、まだ語られていない故がある。
Kono jiken ni wa, mada katararete inai yue ga aru.
There is still an untold reason behind this incident.
事故を防ぐためには、安全確認が不可欠です。
Jiko wo fusegu tame ni wa, anzen kakunin ga fukaketsu desu.
To prevent accidents, safety checks are essential.
私の故郷は、自然豊かな小さな村です。
Watashi no furusato wa, shizen yutakana chiisana mura desu.
My hometown is a small village rich in nature.
何故こんなにも雨が降り続くのか、誰にもわからない。
Naze konnani mo ame ga furitsuzuku no ka, dare ni mo wakaranai.
No one knows why it continues to rain so much.
Memory Tip
To remember the kanji 故, break it down into its components: 古 (old) and 攴 (a simplified radical for 'strike' or 'action'). Imagine an 'old' story or 'old' circumstances that 'strike' you, leading to a particular 'cause' or 'reason.' You could also visualize an 'old' person who 'passed away' (deceased).
The stick-like radical (攴) on the right can also be seen as pointing to the past, reminding us of something 'old' or 'former' that leads to the present situation. The idea of 'old' events causing 'new' situations is central to linking these meanings. Think: Old events cause new situations.