概 means “outline, general, roughly”

がい · gai

Also: condition, approximation, generally

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

おおむね

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ガイ

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 14 strokes

The story

Wood (木) beside 既, someone turning away from a finished meal: 概 once named the stick that levels grain in a measure, rough but fair. It is the broad picture: 概要 is a summary, 概念 a concept, and 概ね means roughly.

Used in 概要 (gaiyou, outline/summary), 概念 (gainen, concept), and 概ね (oomune, mostly/roughly)

More from Roots & Foundations

• 枢 pivot
• 芯 core
• 基 foundation
• 幹 trunk
• 源 source
• 拠 basis
• 盤 board
• 礎 cornerstone
• 軸 axis

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

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