한국어English

Search…

Search blog post titles and content.

N3

Kanji 命: meanings, readings, and example words.

2 min read

Kanji 命: fate, command, decree, destiny, life, appoint

Key takeaways

Kanji 命: fate, command, decree, destiny, life, appoint. Readings and core meaning.

See vocabulary and examples below.

Kanji at a glance

命
N3

Meaning

fatecommanddecreedestinylifeappoint

On reading

メイミョウ

Kun reading

いのち

Radical

口

Core meaning / core image

Core meaning: 命

fate, command, decree, destiny, life, appoint

Kanji structure breakdown

命

Structure breakdown

人 + 一 + 口 + 卩

Mnemonic story

Mnemonic story

It depicts a person kneeling (卩) to receive a single (一) command spoken by a mouth (口). This solemn decree represents one's fate and the very essence of life.

On'yomi and kun'yomi

On reading

メイ
  • 運命うんめい

    fate / destiny

  • 革命かくめい

    revolution / radical change

  • 使命しめい

    mission / task / duty

  • 宿命しゅくめい

    fate / destiny

  • 任命にんめい

    appointment / nomination / designation

  • 命中めいちゅう

    a hit / striking the target

  • 寿命じゅみょう

    lifespan / life expectancy

  • 人命じんめい

    human life

Kun reading

いのち
  • 命いのち

    life / destiny / fate

Commonly used words

  • 運命
    うんめい

    fate / destiny

  • 革命
    かくめい

    revolution / radical change

  • 使命
    しめい

    mission / task / duty

  • 宿命
    しゅくめい

    fate / destiny

  • 任命
    にんめい

    appointment / nomination / designation

  • 命中
    めいちゅう

    a hit / striking the target

  • 命
    いのち

    life / destiny / fate

Example sentences

Example 1

彼らは運命で結ばれている。

Translation

They are bound by fate.

Example 2

運命を変えることはできるのか？

Translation

Can you change your destiny?

Example 3

その国は平和的な革命を経験した。

Translation

That country experienced a peaceful revolution.

Example 4

技術の革命で生活が変わった。

Translation

Life changed due to a technological revolution.

Related word posts

Kanji 命: fate, command, decree, destiny, life, appoint | Daily Nihongo