Kanji 囲: surround, besiege, store, paling, enclosure, encircle, preserve, keep

Key takeaways

Kanji 囲: surround, besiege, store, paling, enclosure, encircle, preserve, keep. Readings and core meaning.

See vocabulary and examples below.

Kanji at a glance

囲

Meaning

surroundbesiegestorepalingenclosureencirclepreservekeep

On reading

イ

Kun reading

かこ.むかこ.うかこ.い

Radical

囗

Core meaning / core image

Core meaning: 囲

surround, besiege, store, paling, enclosure, encircle, preserve, keep

Kanji structure breakdown

囲

Structure breakdown

囗 + 井

Mnemonic story

This kanji depicts an enclosure (囗) built around a well (井). Imagine surrounding a well with a fence to protect its perimeter.

On'yomi and kun'yomi

On reading

イ

周囲しゅうい
surroundings / nearby area
範囲はんい
range / scope / extent
雰囲気ふんいき
atmosphere / mood / ambience

Kun reading

かこ.む

囲むかこむ
to surround / to encircle

Commonly used words

周囲
しゅうい
surroundings / nearby area
範囲
はんい
range / scope / extent
雰囲気
ふんいき
atmosphere / mood / ambience
囲む
かこむ
to surround / to encircle

Example sentences

Example 1

子どもたちが先生を囲んでいる。

Translation

The children are gathered around the teacher.

Example 2

警察が犯人を囲んだ。

Translation

The police surrounded the criminal.

Example 3

周囲の人に気をつけてください。

Translation

Please be careful of the people around you.

Example 4

周囲の音がうるさいです。

Translation

The sounds around are loud.

Kanji 囲: surround, besiege, store, paling, enclosure, encircle, preserve, keep

Kanji at a glance

Core meaning / core image

Kanji structure breakdown

Mnemonic story

On'yomi and kun'yomi

On reading

Kun reading

Commonly used words

Example sentences

囲む (かこむ): meaning and examples

周囲 (しゅうい): meaning and examples

範囲 (はんい): meaning and examples

雰囲気 (ふんいき): meaning and examples