Depicts an old man (耂) with a cane (丂). Originally the same character as 老. Based on the original meaning "old father". The current meaning is a phonetic loan.
Components
丂 Phonetic component
kǎo axe handle
obstruction of breath (qi) as it seeks release
Depicts a cane.
View phonetic series →Notes
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Historical Evolution
考
Oracle
(~1250-1000 BC)
考
Oracle
(~1250-1000 BC)
考
Oracle
(~1250-1000 BC)
考
Oracle
(~1250-1000 BC)
考
Oracle
(~1250-1000 BC)
考
Oracle
(~1250-1000 BC)
考
Bronze
Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
考
Bronze
Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
考
Bronze
Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
考
Bronze
Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)
考
Bronze
Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)
考
Bronze
Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)
考
Bronze
Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
考
Bronze
Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
考
Bronze
Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
考
Bronze
Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
考
Bronze
Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
考
Bronze
Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
考
Bronze
Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)
考
Bronze
Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)
考
Bronze
Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)
考
Bronze
Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)
考
Bronze
Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)
考
Bronze
Early Warring States (~400 BC)
考
Bronze
Late Warring States (~250 BC)
考
Seal
Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
考
Seal
Shuowen (~100 AD)
考
Clerical
Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
考
Clerical
Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
考
Clerical
Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
考
Clerical
Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
考
Clerical
Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
考
Regular
Modern
Chinese
考 [kǎo]
to check; to verify; to test; to examine; to take an exam; to take an entrance exam for; deceased father
Japanese
- thought
- report on one's investigation into ...
- deceased father
Example Sentences
Japanese Names
考 こう
Kō given name
考 たかし
Takashi surnamegiven name
CHINESE WORDS (172)
考虑 [kǎolǜ] #537
to think over
考虑 [kǎolǜ] #537
to think over
考试 [kǎoshì] #2,341
to take an exam
考试 [kǎoshì] #2,341
to take an exam
思考 [sīkǎo] #2,073
to reflect on
考验 [kǎoyàn] #3,583
to test
考验 [kǎoyàn] #3,583
to test
考生 [kǎoshēng] #52,050
exam candidate
考察 [kǎochá] #9,420
to inspect
参考 [cānkǎo] #8,540
consultation
162 more
items
JAPANESE WORDS (158)
⭐ 考える [かんがえる] #84
to think (about, of)
⭐ 考え [かんがえ] #433
thinking
⭐ 思考 [しこう] #1,661
thought
考え込む [かんがえこむ] #3,614
to ponder
どう考えても [どうかんがえても] #4,057
no matter how you look at it
⭐ 考えてみれば [かんがえてみれば] #4,792
if you think about it
⭐ 考慮 [こうりょ] #5,038
consideration
と考えられる [とかんがえられる] #6,556
to be conceivable that
考え事 [かんがえごと] #6,708
something to think about
⭐ 考え直す [かんがえなおす] #7,133
to reconsider
148 more
items
KOREAN WORDS (16)
참고 #4,316
reference
재고 #21,094
reconsideration
고려 #26,546
consideration
고고
study of antiquities
고고학
archeology
고시원
accommodations for students studying for exams
고안
designing; inventing; creating
고증
historical investigation
고찰
consideration; study
사고력
thinking ability; thinking power; thinking
6 more
items