貴 means “precious, noble”
き · ki
Also: value, prize, esteem
- Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)
- たっとい, とうとい, たっとぶ, とうとぶ
- On'yomi (Chinese reading)
- キ
JLPT N1 · Taught in grade 6 · 12 strokes
The story
A shell (貝), the old money, under a shape like 中 and a bar: picture treasure held up high. 貴 is precious and noble: hotels ask you to lock 貴重品, valuables, in the room safe, and 貴族 is the aristocracy.
Used in 貴重 (kichou, precious/valuable), 貴族 (kizoku, aristocracy), and 貴い (toutoi, precious/noble)
More from Emperors & Nobles
- 帝 emperor
- 陛 majesty
- 姫 princess
- 后 empress
- 伯 count
- 陵 imperial tomb
- 妃 queen consort
- 勅 imperial order
- 詔 imperial edict
- 戴 be crowned with
- 侯 marquis
- 朕 imperial we
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Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.