The kanji 常 means `normal`, `usual`, `ordinary`,` common`.

常 when paired with another kanji adds the meaning of **normal, constant, or usual to the term**.

In this post we learn in detail the meaning of 常, its origin, and how it is used through real example sentences.

***


## Origin of the kanji 常
The kanji 常 is made up of 4 radicals. These are (from top to bottom):

- ⺌: `rays of light`

- 冖: `roof`

- 口: radical and kanji which means `mouth`

- 巾: `piece of fabric`



## What does kanji mean 常
The kanji 常 is used to indicate something **constant, ordinary, common**. In fact, when the kanji 常 is used in combination with other kanji it adds the meaning of `common` or `ordinary` to the meaning of the kanji it is paired with.

The following examples help to clarify its use:

- (常|じょう)(人|じん): `common person`

- (常|じょう)(識|しき): `common sense`, `well known`



## Kanji readings 常
Let's now see the various On and Kun readings that the kanji 常 assumes.


### Kun readings of the kanji 常 🇯🇵

#### つね
The reading つね is used for the term (常|つね)に, which means `always` or `constantly`, and all the variations of this word.

Some words that use the kanji 常 reading つね are:

- (常|つね)(日|ひ)(頃|ごろ): `every day`, `at all times`



#### とこ-
The reading こと is used as a suffix to indicate something perpetual or constant for a long time. This reading is not very common for the kanji 常.

Some words that use the kanji 常 reading とこ are:

- (常|こと)(世|よ): `eternal`, `without any change`



### On readings of the kanji 常 🇨🇳

#### じょう
The reading じょう is the **most common and used** for the kanji 常. This reading is used for the kanji in combination with other terms to mean `normality`.

{% quote %}If the kanji to which 常 is paired already has the meaning of "not normal", "special", or "different", then the final term takes on the meaning of _not ordinary_ or _not normal_{% /quote %}


Some words that use the kanji 常 reading じょう are:

- (非|ひ)(常|じょう): `emergency`

- (異|い)(常|じょう): `abnormal`

- (正|せい)(常|じょう): `normality`


***


## Examples of the kanji 常
{% sentence japanese="あそこの(店|みせ)は(異|い)(常|じょう)に(高|たか)いよ。" translation="That shop over there has oddly high prices." /%}

{% sentence japanese="(彼|かれ)は、(通|つう)(常|じょう)バスで(学校|がっこう)へ(行|い)きます。" translation="He usually goes to school by bus." /%}

{% sentence japanese="(非|ひ)(常|じょう)に(勉|べん)(強|きょう)になりました。" translation="He has acquired an extreme amount of knowledge." /%}



Learn all about the Japanese Kanji 常: what it means, how it is used, and many interesting facts about the origin and history of 常.

常 (Common) - Meaning and history | Japanese Kanji

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常 (Common) - Meaning and history | Japanese Kanji

Origin of the kanji 常

What does kanji mean 常

Kanji readings 常

Kun readings of the kanji 常 🇯🇵

つね

とこ-

On readings of the kanji 常 🇨🇳

じょう

Examples of the kanji 常

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