応 — “respond / answer” in Japanese

Grade 5おう

Radical ⼼ · radical 61 The building block this kanji is filed under

“respond / answer” in Japanese is 応, read ou (おう). It is a Grade 5 Kyōiku kanji, taught in year 5 of Japanese elementary school, and appears in words such as 応援 (cheering on).

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What does 応 mean?

Full details, readings & example

Kanji	応
Meaning	respond / answer
Readings	おう
Grade	Grade 5 (Hard)
Curriculum	Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school
Example	応援 (cheering on)

How to read 応

応 is read ou (おう) depending on the word.

Words with 応

適応てきおう
応援おうえん
応用おうよう

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Kanji read the same way as 応

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Updated: 2026-08-28