吉 means “good luck, fortune”

きち · kichi

Also: joy, congratulations

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

よし

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

キチ, キツ

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 6 strokes

The story

A scholar (士) speaking (口) good words: picture a blessing for the year ahead. Draw an omikuji fortune at a shrine and you hope for 大吉, great luck, while 不吉 is ominous; 吉 is also the よし of names like 吉田.

Used in 大吉 (daikichi, excellent luck), 不吉 (fukitsu, ominous), and 吉報 (kippou, good news)

More from Rites & Omens

• 儀 ceremony
• 典 classic
• 賀 congratulations
• 斎 purification
• 犠 sacrifice
• 寿 long life
• 祥 good omen
• 牲 sacrifice
• 縁 bond
• 慶 celebration
• 盆 Obon
• 凶 bad luck

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

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