Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of old (老) and phonetic. Elder thinking.
Symbolism
Thought, consideration, reference. Represents basis of intellectual activity.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Pondering thoughts
Component Breakdown
耂 + 丂
Words & Expressions
Words written with 考
Four-Character Compounds
千思万考
せんしばんこう
deep meditation; mature consideration
沈思黙考
ちんしもっこう
being lost in deep thought
人事考課
じんじこうか
merit (ability, efficiency) rating; employee performance evaluation
垂直思考
すいちょくしこう
rigid (stereotypical) thinking that adheres to preconceived notions; vertical thinking; linear thinking
Proverbs & Idioms
案ずるより産むが易し
あんずるよりうむがやすし
Giving birth is easier than worrying
It's easier than you think
Anime & Manga
PSYCHO-PASS
Psycho-Pass
SF suspense making you 'think' about justice.
私がモテないのはどう考えてもお前らが悪い!
WataMote: No Matter How I Look At It, It's You Guys' Fault I'm Not Popular!
A well-known work with 考 in its Japanese title.
空の境界 殺人考察(前)
the Garden of sinners Chapter 2: …and nothing heart. (Murder Speculation Part A)
A well-known work with 考 in its Japanese title.
妹の友達が何考えてるのかわからない
I Don’t Understand What My Sister’s Friend Is Thinking
A well-known work with 考 in its Japanese title.
Games
シヴィライゼーション
Civilization(1991)
Developer: Firaxis Games
Civilization simulation 'thinking' strategy.
View on Amazon →Other kanji with the same meaning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 考 mean in Japanese?
考 means consider, think over.
How do you read 考?
On'yomi: コウ (KOU). Kun'yomi: かんが.える、かんが.え (kangaeru, kangae).
How many strokes does 考 have?
考 has 6 strokes. Its radical is 老 (old).
Is 考 a good kanji for a tattoo?
考 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means consider, think over. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.
Explore by meaning:consider