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起
起 (readings: き, お, た; Japanese kanji) means “to get up / to begin”. It is a Grade 3 Kyōiku kanji, taught in year 3 of Japanese elementary school, and appears in words such as 起立 (to stand up).
What does 起 mean?
| Kanji | 起 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | to get up / to begin |
| Readings | き, お, た |
| Grade | Grade 3 (Medium) |
| Curriculum | Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school |
How to read 起
起 is read き or お or た depending on the word.
Example words with 起
| Example | 起立 (to stand up) |
|---|
Practice writing 起 — free
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Updated: 2026-07-14