L6. 金 — Day 6 (gold / money)
Days 1-10
R-report
[Day 6] 金 - gold / money
金 is an ancient character originally related to metal and the bright color of gold. Over time it came to mean not only the metal gold but also money, metal in general, and things associated with value (e.g., goldfish named for their color). You will see 金 in everyday words for money (お金), days of the week (金曜日, Friday), and many compound nouns. Readings: On'yomi: キン, コン — used in compounds like 金曜日 (きんようび). Kun'yomi: かね, かな- — used when the character stands alone as a noun (お金). Mnemonic start: imagine the sunlit kanji 金 as a shining nugget — bright metal and money.
Readings
On'yomi: **キン**, **コン** (kin, kon) Kun'yomi: **かね**, **かな-**, **こがね** (kane, kana-, kogane)
Related words
- お金 (おかね, okane) — money • 私は毎月少しずつ**お金**を貯めています。(Watashi wa maitsuki sukoshi zutsu **okane** o tameteimasu. / I save a little money each month.)
- 現金 (げんきん, genkin) — cash • カードが使えないので**現金**で払います。(Kaado ga tsukaenai node **genkin** de haraimasu. / I will pay in cash because the card can't be used.)
- 金曜日 (きんようび, kinyoubi) — Friday • 明日は**金曜日**です。(Ashita wa **kinyoubi** desu. / Tomorrow is Friday.)
- 金魚 (きんぎょ, kingyo) — goldfish • 子供が**金魚**を買いたいと言いました。(Kodomo ga **kingyo** o kaitai to iimashita. / My child said they want to buy a goldfish.)
- 金持ち (かねもち, kanemochi) — rich person • 彼は**金持ち**だと言われています。(Kare wa **kanemochi** da to iwareteimasu. / People say he is rich.)