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故
故 (readings: こ, ゆえ; Japanese kanji) means “reason / old”. It is a Grade 5 Kyōiku kanji, taught in year 5 of Japanese elementary school, and appears in words such as 故障 (breakdown).
What does 故 mean?
| Kanji | 故 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | reason / old |
| Readings | こ, ゆえ |
| Grade | Grade 5 (Hard) |
| Curriculum | Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school |
How to read 故
故 is read こ or ゆえ depending on the word.
Example words with 故
| Example | 故障 (breakdown) |
|---|
Practice writing 故 — free
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Updated: 2026-07-14