度 — Degree, Time, Occurrence

Meaning

度 packs a cluster of related meanings into one character: degree, time (as in an occasion), extent, and a counter for occurrences. A unit of temperature, a geometric angle, or simply how many times something has happened — 度 measures them all.

度 is built on the radical 广 (まだれ, a broad roof), paired with elements that suggest measuring by hand. The original image: a person in ancient China stretching out an arm to gauge length. That physical gesture eventually broadened into the abstract ideas of degree and extent.

Nine strokes, Grade 3 — Japanese children learn this one early. Its radical 广 turns up in many kanji tied to buildings and open spaces. You will encounter 度 constantly: in 温度 (temperature), 態度 (attitude), 速度 (speed), and dozens of other everyday words.

Readings

On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings

ド (do) dominates — nearly all compound words use this reading. It comes from the Chinese pronunciation and appears when 度 sits in the middle or end of a compound noun. ト (to) is a distant second, limited to a handful of set expressions and classical vocabulary.

ド (do) examples:

温度おんど (ondo) — temperature
速度そくど (sokudo) — speed, velocity
程度ていど (teido) — degree, extent, level
態度たいど (taido) — attitude, manner, stance

ト (to) examples:

支度したく (shitaku) — preparation, getting ready
仕度したく (shitaku) — preparation (alternate writing)

Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings

たび (tabi) is the native Japanese reading, meaning occasion or time — each instance of something happening. Modern writing often uses hiragana for this, though the kanji 度 appears when the writer wants clarity or emphasis.

度たびに (tabi ni) — each time, whenever, every time something occurs
度たび々 / 度度たびたび (tabitabi) — often, again and again
この度たび (kono tabi) — on this occasion (formal/written style)

Common Words & Compounds

度 shows up across science, time expressions, and abstract concepts. Here are the most useful compounds, grouped by theme.

Measurement & Science

温度おんど (ondo) — temperature
角度かくど (kakudo) — angle (geometry or perspective)
速度そくど (sokudo) — speed, velocity
高度こうど (koudo) — altitude; a high degree of something
湿度しつど (shitsudo) — humidity
度数どすう (dosuu) — frequency; degree (of a lens or alcohol content)

Time & Frequency

今度こんど (kondo) — this time; next time
一度いちど (ichido) — once, one time
二度にど (nido) — twice, two times
毎度まいど (maido) — each time; thank you for your continued patronage
再度さいど (saido) — again, a second time
年度ねんど (nendo) — fiscal year, academic year

Abstract Degree & Systems

程度ていど (teido) — degree, extent, level
態度たいど (taido) — attitude, stance
制度せいど (seido) — system, institution, framework
限度げんど (gendo) — limit, boundary
度合どあい (doai) — degree, extent (of something)

Example Sentences

きょうの気温きおんは30度どもあります。

Kyou no kion wa sanjuu-do mo arimasu.

Today's temperature is a sweltering 30 degrees.

一度いちどやってみましょう。

Ichido yatte mimashou.

Let's give it a try.

今度こんどの週末しゅうまつ、いっしょに映画えいがを見みませんか。

Kondo no shuumatsu, issho ni eiga wo mimasen ka.

Would you like to catch a movie together this weekend?

あの先生せんせいの態度たいどはあまりよくないと思おもいます。

Ano sensei no taido wa amari yokunai to omoimasu.

Honestly, that teacher's attitude leaves something to be desired.

支度したくができたら、すぐ出発しゅっぱつしましょう。

Shitaku ga dekitara, sugu shuppatsu shimashou.

Once you're ready, let's head out.

彼かれは度々たびたび遅刻ちこくする。

Kare wa tabitabi chikoku suru.

He keeps showing up late.

この問題もんだいの難むずかしさの程度ていどはどのくらいですか。

Kono mondai no muzukashisa no teido wa dono kurai desu ka.

How difficult is this problem, roughly?

二度にどと同おなじ間違まちがいをしないようにしてください。

Nido to onaji machigai wo shinai you ni shite kudasai.

Please make sure you never make the same mistake again.

飛行機ひこうきは高度こうど1万メートルめーとるを飛とんでいます。

Hikouki wa koudo ichiman meetoru wo tonde imasu.

The plane is cruising at an altitude of 10,000 meters.

この新あたらしい制度せいどは来年度らいねんどから始はじまります。

Kono atarashii seido wa rainen-do kara hajimarimasu.

This new system kicks in from next fiscal year.

Related Kanji

Memory Tip

Picture someone standing under a broad roof (广), arms stretched wide, measuring the span of the room. Every measurement is one degree — one time, one counted occurrence. The roof shelters the act, and 度 captures the result.

There is also a loose link to the English word dose: medicine measured in degrees, taken once (一度), then maybe again (二度). Each dose is a 度 — something measured and counted. When you see 度, ask yourself: How much? How many times? To what extent?