Meaning
配 covers distribute, deliver, arrange, and allocate. It also surfaces in words for worry and concern, and in formal vocabulary for spouse or partner. Few N3 kanji thread through daily life, office talk, and modern tech as consistently as this one.
Two components build the character: 酉 (ゆう), the radical for a sake jar, and 己 (き), meaning self or one's own person. Picture a host carefully pouring sake from a jar and handing a cup to each guest in turn — that deliberate, one-by-one distribution is the kanji's pictographic origin. Over centuries, the meaning widened from pouring drinks to arranging people, routing packages, and streaming content.
A Jōyō kanji taught in Grade 3, 配 is written in 10 strokes and built left-to-right starting from the 酉 radical. Japanese children meet it early. By the time they reach adulthood, they use it to describe worrying about a parent (心配), waiting for a delivery (宅配), and watching a live stream (配信).
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The on'yomi is ハイ. It appears almost exclusively in compound words (熟語) and is the reading you will encounter most in written Japanese.
Key compound words using ハイ:
- 配達 (haitatsu) — delivery (packages, mail)
- 配布 (haifu) — distribution (flyers, documents)
- 配置 (haichi) — placement, deployment
- 配慮 (hairyo) — consideration, thoughtful care for others
- 配信 (haishin) — broadcasting, streaming
- 支配 (shihai) — control, dominance, governance
- 配色 (haishoku) — color scheme, palette
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The kun'yomi is くば(る) (kubar·u). As a standalone verb, 配る means to hand out — a teacher distributing worksheets, someone passing out flyers on the street. It conjugates as a regular godan verb.
- 配る (kubaru) — to distribute, to hand out
- 配り物 (kubarimono) — a gift or item distributed to others
- 目配り (mekubari) — keeping a watchful eye on things
- 気配り (kikubari) — consideration for others, attentiveness
Common Words & Compounds
配 spans an unusually wide range of vocabulary. Below are the key compounds grouped by theme.
Worry & Care
- 心配 (shinpai) — worry, concern, anxiety
- 配慮 (hairyo) — consideration, care for others
- 気配 (kehai) — sign, atmosphere, presence
Delivery & Distribution
- 配達 (haitatsu) — delivery (mail, packages)
- 宅配 (takuhai) — home delivery
- 配布 (haifu) — distribution of materials
- 分配 (bunpai) — allocation, sharing out
Arrangement & Placement
- 配置 (haichi) — arrangement, deployment
- 配列 (hairetsu) — sequence, array (also a programming term)
- 配色 (haishoku) — color arrangement, palette
Control & Management
- 支配 (shihai) — control, dominance, rule
- 配管 (haikan) — piping, plumbing
- 配線 (haisen) — wiring, electrical wiring
Media & Modern Usage
- 配信 (haishin) — streaming, content distribution
- 配偶者 (haiguusha) — spouse (formal and legal contexts)
Example Sentences
先生がプリントを配った。
Sensei ga purinto wo kubatta.
The teacher handed out the worksheets.
母のことがとても心配です。
Haha no koto ga totemo shinpai desu.
I'm really worried about my mother.
荷物は明日配達される予定です。
Nimotsu wa ashita haitatsu sareru yotei desu.
The package is scheduled to arrive tomorrow.
新しいスタッフの配置が決まった。
Atarashii sutaffu no haichi ga kimatta.
The new staff assignments have been finalized.
この部屋は家具の配置がとても良い。
Kono heya wa kagu no haichi ga totemo yoi.
The furniture layout in this room really works.
その会社は市場を支配している。
Sono kaisha wa shijou wo shihai shite iru.
That company dominates the market.
彼は周りへの気配りができる人だ。
Kare wa mawari e no kikubari ga dekiru hito da.
He really looks out for the people around him.
ライブ配信で世界中に届けられた。
Raibu haishin de sekaijuu ni todoke rareta.
It was broadcast to audiences worldwide via live stream.
宅配ボックスに荷物が入っていた。
Takuhai bokkusu ni nimotsu ga haitte ita.
A package was waiting in the delivery box.
彼女は配偶者と共に海外へ移住した。
Kanojo wa haiguusha to tomo ni kaigai e ijuu shita.
She moved abroad together with her spouse.
Memory Tip
Picture a party host standing over a sake jar (酉), carefully pouring a cup for each person (己) one by one. That careful, one-by-one distribution is the core of 配. Jar on the left, person on the right — hold that image and the kanji sticks.
The same logic unlocks 心配 (worry). A good host frets about whether every guest has been taken care of. If someone's cup is empty, that nagging feeling is 心配.