偶 means “chance, even number, pair”

ぐう · guu

Also: accidentally, couple, man & wife

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

たま

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

グウ

JLPT N3 · Taught in secondary school · 11 strokes

The story

A person (亻) beside 禺: 偶 first meant a figure in human shape, like the 土偶, Japan's ancient clay figurines. Today it means pairs and chance: 偶数 is an even number, and 偶然 is pure coincidence.

Used in 偶然 (guuzen, by chance), 偶数 (guusuu, even number), and 配偶者 (haiguusha, spouse)

More from How Things Feel

• 偉 admirable
• 情 feelings
• 難 difficult
• 良 good
• 適 suitable
• 静 quiet
• 困 be troubled
• 恐 fear
• 欲 want
• 疲 tired
• 忙 busy

Learn 偶 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.