囲 means “surround, enclose”

かこむ · kakomu

Also: besiege, store, paling

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

かこむ, かこう, かこい

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

イ

JLPT N2 · Taught in grade 5 · 7 strokes

The story

A well frame (井) with a wall (囗) all the way round it: shut in on every side. 囲む is to surround, as a family sits round the table, 範囲 is a range, like the pages a test covers, and 雰囲気 is the atmosphere of a place.

Used in 囲む (kakomu, to surround), 範囲 (han'i, range/scope), and 雰囲気 (fun'iki, atmosphere)

More from Halls & Hidden Corners

• 裏 back
• 庫 storehouse
• 底 bottom
• 宇 universe
• 奥 interior
• 殿 palace
• 隅 corner

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

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