康 means “ease, well-being”

こう · kou

Also: peace

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

コウ

JLPT N1 · Taught in grade 4 · 11 strokes

The story

Under a roof (广), a hand (⺻) with water (氺) close by: a home with all it needs. 康 is ease and well-being, the second half of 健康, health, and the yasu of 徳川家康, Tokugawa Ieyasu, while 小康 is a lull, a patient holding steady.

Used in 健康 (kenkou, health) and 小康 (shoukou, lull/stable condition)

More from Sickness & Cures

• 傷 wound
• 診 examine (a patient)
• 看 watch over
• 症 symptom
• 剤 medicine
• 菌 germ
• 疫 epidemic
• 癒 heal
• 尿 urine
• 吐 vomit
• 痕 scar
• 痢 diarrhea

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