器 means “vessel, device, ability”
き · ki
Also: utensil, receptacle, implement
- Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)
- うつわ
- On'yomi (Chinese reading)
- キ
JLPT N1 · Taught in grade 4 · 15 strokes
The story
Four mouths (口) around 大, once a dog (犬): the old dictionaries explain 器 as vessels with a dog to guard them. 器 is a container or a tool: 食器 is tableware, 楽器 an instrument, and someone 器が大きい is big-hearted, a vessel that holds a lot.
Used in 食器 (shokki, tableware), 楽器 (gakki, musical instrument), and 器用 (kiyou, skillful/handy)
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Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.