慶 means “celebration, joy”

けい · kei

Also: jubilation, congratulate, rejoice, be happy

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

よろこび

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ケイ

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 15 strokes

The story

A deer (the top of 鹿), a heart (心) and walking feet (夂): the Shuowen pictures going to congratulate someone with a deerskin as a gift. 慶事 is a happy occasion, 慶弔 joys and sorrows, and 慶應 University takes its name from the Keiō era.

Used in 慶事 (keiji, happy occasion), 慶弔 (keichou, celebrations and condolences), and 慶應 (keiou, Keiō)

More from Rites & Omens

• 盆 Obon
• 凶 bad luck
• 宴 banquet
• 賓 honored guest
• 崇 revere
• 禍 calamity
• 厄 misfortune
• 詣 visit a shrine
• 吉 good luck
• 儀 ceremony
• 典 classic
• 賀 congratulations

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

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