敬 means “respect, honor”

けい · kei

Also: awe, revere

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading): うやまう
On'yomi (Chinese reading): ケイ, キョウ

JLPT N2 · Taught in grade 6 · 12 strokes

The story

Picture a teacher tapping a stick (攵) until every phrase (句) comes out properly polite: 敬 is respect. 敬語 is honorific speech, 敬老の日 in September honors the elderly, and 敬具 closes a letter that opened with 拝啓.

Used in 敬語 (keigo, honorific language), 尊敬 (sonkei, respect), and 敬う (uyamau, to revere)

敬 means “respect, honor”

The story

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