Meaning

Primary

Container

Alternatives

Bowl, Capacity

Word Type

noun

Explanation

The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.

refers to a container or a bowl and is often used in culinary contexts. It can also be used metaphorically to describe someone's capacity for certain things. For instance, when someone has a small , it means they have a limited capacity to handle pressure, stress, or difficulties.

Reading

うつわ
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

Since this word is made up of a single kanji, it should use the kun'yomi reading. When learning the kanji, you didn't learn that reading, so here's a mnemonic to help you with this word:

You have this container. It's upside down with a stick holding it up and a string on the stick. You're going to catch some U2s (like, the band). You put some food under it and wait. Then, out of the bushes comes Bono. He sniffs around for a bit and then goes under the container. You pull! U2 walked (うつわ) right into the trap! Haha!

Context

Patterns of Use

Common Word Combinations

  • 器が大きい

    one’s capacity is large, the container is large

    器が小さい

    one’s capacity is small, the container is small

    器がある

    there is a container

Context Sentences

この器は母のです。

This bowl is my mom's.

どうしよう?これって、コウイチが大切にしていたフグの器だよね?

What shall we do? This is Koichi's cherished blowfish bowl, right?

あの人ってホント器が大きいよね。

That person really has a big heart, don't they?

Kanji Composition