会 means “meeting, society”

かい · kai

Also: meet, party, association

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

あう, あわせる, あつまる

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

カイ, エ

JLPT N5 · Taught in grade 2 · 6 strokes

The story

A lid (𠆢) over something that gathers together: people coming under one roof to meet. From tea ceremony 会 to corporate board meetings, the character captures Japan's deep culture of gathering, consensus, and shared purpose.

Used in 会社 (kaisha, company) and 会議 (kaigi, conference)

Words with 会

• 会社 (かいしゃ, kaisha): company
• 社会 (しゃかい, shakai): society

More from Society & Government

• 社 company
• 官 government official
• 軍 army
• 公 public
• 私 private
• 世 world
• 界 world
• 国 country
• 王 king
• 法 law
• 政 politics
• 民 people

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

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