京

See also: 亰

京 U+4EAC, 京 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-4EAC ← 享 [U+4EAB] CJK Unified Ideographs 亭 → [U+4EAD]

Translingual

Stroke order

Han character

京 (Kangxi radical 8, 亠+6, 8 strokes, cangjie input 卜口火 (YRF), four-corner 0090₆, composition ⿳亠口小)

Derived characters

• 倞 惊 掠 弶 涼(凉) 猄 婛 𠶛 𡌿 𡹡 𡬱 琼 晾 椋 㹁 稤 䁁 䃄 綡(𫟅) 翞 諒(谅) 輬(辌) 䝶 䣼 𨂙 鍄 鯨(鲸) 黥 剠 勍 就 鶁 𡹞 景 麖

References

• Kangxi Dictionary: page 88, character 19
• Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 299
• Dae Jaweon: page 187, character 11
• Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 1, page 284, character 6
• Unihan data for U+4EAC

Chinese

simp. and trad.		京
alternative forms		亰 𡬱 𢂋 𦣿

Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 京
Shang	Western Zhou	Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)	Liushutong (compiled in Ming)
Oracle bone script	Bronze inscriptions	Small seal script	Transcribed ancient scripts
Oracle bone script j13492 j13493 j13494 j13495 j13496 j13497 j13498 j13499 j13500 j13501 j13502 j13503 j13504 j13505 j13506 j13507 j13508 Bronze inscriptions b08306 b08307 b08308 b08309 b08310 b08311 b08312 b08313 b08314 b08315 b08316 b08317 b08318 b08319 b08320 b08321 b08322 b08323 b08324 Small seal script s03835 Transcribed ancient scripts L33123 L33124 L33125 L33126 L33127 L33128 L33129 L33130 L33131 L10565 L10566 L10567 L10568 L10569 L10570 L10571 L10572 L10573 L10574 L10575 L10576 L10577 L10578 L10579 L10580 L10581
References: Mostly from Richard Sears' Chinese Etymology site (authorisation), which in turn draws data from various collections of ancient forms of Chinese characters, including: Shuowen Jiezi (small seal), Jinwen Bian (bronze inscriptions), Liushutong (Liushutong characters) and Yinxu Jiaguwen Bian (oracle bone script).

Characters in the same phonetic series (京) (Zhengzhang, 2003) 

	Old Chinese
涼	*ɡ·raŋ, *ɡ·raŋs, *ɡ·raŋs
凉	*ɡ·raŋ
椋	*ɡ·raŋ
綡	*ɡ·raŋ
輬	*ɡ·raŋ
諒	*ɡ·raŋs
掠	*ɡ·raŋs, *ɡ·raɡ
弶	*ɡaŋs
京	*kraŋ
麖	*kraŋ
鶁	*kraŋ
景	*kraŋʔ
鯨	*ɡraŋ
黥	*ɡraŋ
勍	*ɡraŋ
剠	*ɡraŋ
倞	*ɡraŋs
影	*qraŋʔ
璟	*qraŋʔ, *kʷraŋʔ
憬	*kʷraŋʔ
暻	*kʷraŋʔ
澋	*ɡʷraːŋʔ

According to Shuowen, from 高 (gāo), where the lower 口 (kǒu) is reduced to 丨 (gǔn).

Etymology 1

Either from:

• Proto-Sino-Tibetan *s-gaŋ (“hill, ridge, mountain”) (STEDT), cognate with 岡 (OC *klaːŋ, “hill, crest”), 鯨 (OC *ɡraŋ, “whale”), Tibetan སྒང་ (sgang, “ridge; mound”), Burmese ခင် (hkang, “ridge”), Burmese အခေါင် (a.hkaung, “summit”), Lahu qhɔ³³ (“mountain”), Sulung gɹaŋ³³ (“mountain”), Proto-Tamangic *ᴬgaŋ ("hill, mountain"); or
• of Austroasiatic origin, compare Proto-Mon-Khmer *graŋ (“hill, peak”) (Schuessler, 2007), whence Mon ဂြၚ် (krɛ̀aŋ, “peak”) and Old Khmer grāṅ (“hill on flat land”).

Within Chinese, cognate with 景 (OC *kraŋʔ, “large”), 鯨 (OC *ɡraŋ, “whale”) (Schuessler, 2007).

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Standard)

  (Pinyin): jīng (jing¹)

  (Zhuyin): ㄐㄧㄥ

  (Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): jin¹

  (Dungan, Cyrillic and Wiktionary): җин (žin, I)

• Cantonese

  (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): ging¹

  (Taishan, Wiktionary): gen¹

• Gan (Wiktionary): jin¹
• Hakka

  (Sixian, PFS): kîn

  (Meixian, Guangdong): gin¹

• Jin (Wiktionary): jing¹
• Northern Min (KCR): géng
• Eastern Min (BUC): gĭng
• Southern Min

  (Hokkien, POJ): kiaⁿ / keng

  (Teochew, Peng'im): gian¹

• Wu (Shanghai, Wugniu): ¹cin
• Xiang (Changsha, Wiktionary): jin¹

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: jīng
    • Zhuyin: ㄐㄧㄥ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: jing
    • Wade–Giles: ching¹
    • Yale: jīng
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: jing
    • Palladius: цзин (czin)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/
  • (Chengdu)
    • Sichuanese Pinyin: jin¹
    • Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: gin
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡ɕin⁵⁵/
  • (Dungan)
    • Cyrillic and Wiktionary: җин (žin, I)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡ɕiŋ²⁴/

    (Note: Dungan pronunciation is currently experimental and may be inaccurate.)

• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
    • Jyutping: ging¹
    • Yale: gīng
    • Cantonese Pinyin: ging¹
    • Guangdong Romanization: ging¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /kɪŋ⁵⁵/
  • (Taishanese, Taicheng)
    • Wiktionary: gen¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ken³³/
• Gan
  • (Nanchang)
    • Wiktionary: jin¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡ɕin⁴²/
• Hakka
  • (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Meinong)
    • Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: kîn
    • Hakka Romanization System: gin´
    • Hagfa Pinyim: gin¹
    • Sinological IPA: /kin²⁴/
  • (Meixian)
    • Guangdong: gin¹
    • Sinological IPA: /kin⁴⁴/
• Jin
  • (Taiyuan)⁺
    • Wiktionary: jing¹
    • Sinological IPA (old-style): /t͡ɕĩŋ¹¹/
• Northern Min
  • (Jian'ou)
    • Kienning Colloquial Romanized: géng
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /keiŋ⁵⁴/
• Eastern Min
  • (Fuzhou)
    • Bàng-uâ-cê: gĭng
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /kiŋ⁵⁵/
• Southern Min
  • (Hokkien)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: kiaⁿ / keng
    • Tâi-lô: kiann / king
    • Phofsit Daibuun: kviaf, kefng
    • IPA (Xiamen): /kiã⁴⁴/, /kiɪŋ⁴⁴/
    • IPA (Quanzhou): /kiã³³/, /kiɪŋ³³/
    • IPA (Zhangzhou): /kiã⁴⁴/, /kiɪŋ⁴⁴/
    • IPA (Taipei): /kiã⁴⁴/, /kiɪŋ⁴⁴/
    • IPA (Kaohsiung): /kiã⁴⁴/, /kiɪŋ⁴⁴/

Note:

• kiaⁿ - vernacular;
• keng - literary.

• (Teochew)
  • Peng'im: gian¹
  • Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: kiaⁿ
  • Sinological IPA ^(key): /kĩã³³/
• Wu
  • (Northern: Shanghai)
    • Wugniu: ¹cin
    • MiniDict: cin^平
    • Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): ¹jin
    • Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /t͡ɕin⁵³/
• Xiang
  • (Changsha)
    • Wiktionary: jin¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡ɕin³³/

---

• Dialectal data

Variety	Location	edit 京
Mandarin	Beijing	/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/
	Harbin	/t͡ɕiŋ⁴⁴/
	Tianjin	/t͡ɕiŋ²¹/
	Jinan	/t͡ɕiŋ²¹³/
	Qingdao	/t͡ɕiŋ²¹³/
	Zhengzhou	/t͡ɕiŋ²⁴/
	Xi'an	/t͡ɕiŋ²¹/
	Xining	/t͡ɕiə̃⁴⁴/
	Yinchuan	/t͡ɕiŋ⁴⁴/
	Lanzhou	/t͡ɕĩn³¹/
	Ürümqi	/t͡ɕiŋ⁴⁴/
	Wuhan	/t͡ɕin⁵⁵/
	Chengdu	/t͡ɕin⁵⁵/
	Guiyang	/t͡ɕin⁵⁵/
	Kunming	/t͡ɕĩ⁴⁴/
	Nanjing	/t͡ɕin³¹/
	Hefei	/t͡ɕin²¹/
Jin	Taiyuan	/t͡ɕiəŋ¹¹/
	Pingyao	/t͡ɕiŋ¹³/ /t͡ɕi¹³/ ～陵城
	Hohhot	/t͡ɕĩŋ³¹/
Wu	Shanghai	/t͡ɕiŋ⁵³/
	Suzhou	/t͡ɕin⁵⁵/
	Hangzhou	/t͡ɕin³³/
	Wenzhou	/t͡ɕaŋ³³/
Hui	Shexian	/t͡ɕiʌ̃³¹/
	Tunxi	/t͡ɕiɛ¹¹/
Xiang	Changsha	/t͡ɕin³³/
	Xiangtan	/t͡ɕin³³/
Gan	Nanchang	/t͡ɕin⁴²/
Hakka	Meixian	/kin⁴⁴/
	Taoyuan	/kin²⁴/
Cantonese	Guangzhou	/keŋ⁵³/
	Nanning	/keŋ⁵⁵/
	Hong Kong	/kiŋ⁵⁵/
Min	Xiamen (Hokkien)	/kiŋ⁵⁵/ /kiã⁵⁵/
	Fuzhou (Eastern Min)	/kiŋ⁴⁴/
	Jian'ou (Northern Min)	/keiŋ⁵⁴/
	Shantou (Teochew)	/kiã³³/
	Haikou (Hainanese)	/keŋ²³/

---

• Middle Chinese: kjaeng

Rime
Character	京
Reading #	1/1
Initial (聲)	見 (28)
Final (韻)	庚 (111)
Tone (調)	Level (Ø)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	III
Fanqie	舉卿切
Baxter	kjaeng
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/kˠiæŋ/
Pan Wuyun	/kᵚiaŋ/
Shao Rongfen	/kiaŋ/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/kiajŋ/
Li Rong	/kiɐŋ/
Wang Li	/kĭɐŋ/
Bernard Karlgren	/ki̯ɐŋ/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	jīng
Expected Cantonese Reflex	ging1

• Old Chinese

  (Baxter–Sagart): /*[k]raŋ/

  (Zhengzhang): /*kraŋ/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	京
Reading #	1/1
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	jīng
Middle Chinese	‹ kjæng ›
Old Chinese	/*[k]raŋ/
English	hill; capital city
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	京
Reading #	1/1
No.	6828
Phonetic component	京
Rime group	陽
Rime subdivision	0
Corresponding MC rime	驚
Old Chinese	/*kraŋ/

Definitions

京

1. ^⁜ capital (city)

   京城  ―  jīngchéng  ―  capital city

   京畿  ―  jīngjī  ―  capital city and its surrounding area

   泰京  ―  Tàijīng  ―  (Thailand) Bangkok (the capital city of Thailand)

   墨京  ―  Mòjīng  ―  (dated) Mexico City (the capital city of Mexico)

   • 三后在天，王配于京。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad. and simp.]

     From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11^th – 7^th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Sān hòu zài tiān, wáng pèi yú jīng. [Pinyin]

     The three sovereigns were in heaven; and king [Wu] was their worthy successor in his capital.

2. Short for 北京 (Běijīng, “Beijing”). after 1949

   京劇／京剧  ―  jīngjù  ―  Beijing opera

   京腔  ―  jīngqiāng  ―  Beijing accent

3. Short for 南京 (Nánjīng, “Nanjing”). between 1927–1948
4. Short for 京都 (jīngdū, “Kyoto”). when referring Japan-related topics
5. ^† tall mound

   • 曾孫之庾，如坻如京。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]
     曾孙之庾，如坻如京。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11^th – 7^th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Céngsūn zhī yǔ, rú dǐ rú jīng. [Pinyin]

     The stacks of the distant descendant, will stand like islands and mounds.

6. ^† large barn
7. ^† large; great

   • 有媯之後，將育于姜，五世其昌，並于正卿，八世之後，莫之與京。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     有妫之后，将育于姜，五世其昌，并于正卿，八世之后，莫之与京。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4^th century BCE

     Yǒuguī zhīhòu, jiāng yù yú Jiāng, wǔshìqíchāng, bìng yú zhèngqīng, bā shì zhīhòu, mò zhī yǔ jīng. [Pinyin]

     The posterity of this scion of the Gui [surname of the House of Chen] will be nourished among the Jiang [surname of the House of Qi]. In five generations they will be prosperous, and the highest ministers in Qi; in eight, there will be none to compare with them for greatness.

8. ^† ten million, 10⁷
9. ^† ten quadrillion, 10¹⁶
10. ^† septillion, 10²⁴
11. ^† A hundred nonillion, 10³²

See also

Chinese numerals
104	108	1012	1016	1020	1024	1028	1032	1036	1040	1044	1048
萬／万 (wàn)	億／亿 (yì)	兆 (zhào) (Taiwan)	京 (jīng) (Taiwan)	垓 (gāi)	秭 (zǐ)	穰 (ráng)	溝／沟 (gōu)	澗／涧 (jiàn)	正 (zhèng)	載／载 (zài)	極／极 (jí)
		萬億／万亿 (wànyì) (Mainland China)	億億/亿亿 (Mainland China)

Compounds

• 上京 (shàngjīng)
• 中京 (Zhōngjīng)
• 二京
• 五日京兆 (wǔrìjīngzhào)
• 京尹
• 京二胡 (jīng'èrhú)
• 京京 (jīngjīng)
• 京倉／京仓
• 京債／京债
• 京兆 (Jīngzhào)
• 京兆尹 (Jīngzhào Yǐn)
• 京八寸
• 京劇／京剧 (jīngjù)
• 京口
• 京味 (jīngwèi)
• 京味兒／京味儿
• 京城 (jīngchéng)
• 京堂
• 京報／京报
• 京字頭／京字头 (jīngzìtóu)
• 京官
• 京室
• 京察
• 京山 (Jīngshān)
• 京師／京师 (jīngshī)
• 京府
• 京戲／京戏 (jīngxì)
• 京斯敦 (Jīngsīdūn)
• 京族 (Jīngzú)
• 京東大鼓／京东大鼓
• 京江
• 京油子
• 京洛
• 京派 (jīngpài)
• 京津大鼓
• 京滬鐵路／京沪铁路
• 京片子 (jīngpiànzi)
• 京畿 (jīngjī)
• 京畿令
• 京白 (jīngbái)
• 京白梨
• 京縣／京县
• 京繡／京绣
• 京胡 (jīnghú)
• 京腔 (jīngqiāng)
• 京花子
• 京菜 (jīngcài)
• 京華／京华 (jīnghuá)
• 京觀／京观 (jīngguàn)
• 京話／京话
• 京語／京语 (jīngyǔ)
• 京調／京调 (jīngdiào)
• 京邑 (jīngyì)
• 京都 (jīngdū)
• 京闕／京阙 (jīngquè)
• 京韻大鼓／京韵大鼓
• 光復舊京／光复旧京
• 兩京／两京 (liǎngjīng)
• 北京 (Běijīng)
• 北京之春
• 北京人 (Běijīngrén)
• 北京大學／北京大学
• 北京時間／北京时间 (Běijīng Shíjiān)
• 北京條約／北京条约
• 北京狗 (běijīnggǒu)
• 北京鴨／北京鸭 (běijīngyā)
• 南京 (Nánjīng)
• 南京條約／南京条约
• 四京
• 帝京
• 放京債／放京债
• 東京／东京 (Dōngjīng)
• 東京影展／东京影展
• 東京灣／东京湾 (Dōngjīngwān)
• 東京股市／东京股市
• 汴京 (Biànjīng)
• 洛京
• 海京
• 灤京／滦京
• 燕京 (Yānjīng)
• 玉京
• 盛京 (Shèngjīng)
• 研京練都／研京练都
• 神京 (shénjīng)
• 維京人／维京人 (wéijīngrén)
• 莫之與京／莫之与京 (mòzhīyǔjīng)
• 西京 (Xījīng)
• 西京賦／西京赋
• 西京雜記／西京杂记
• 進京／进京 (jìnjīng)
• 鎬京／镐京 (hàojīng)
• 陪京

 

Descendants

Sino-Xenic (京):

• → Japanese: 京(きょう) (kyō); 京(けい) (kei)
• → Korean: 경(京) (gyeong)
• → Vietnamese: kinh (京)

References

• “京”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database)‎^[1], 香港中文大學 (the Chinese University of Hong Kong), 2014–
• Dictionary of Chinese Character Variants (教育部異體字字典), A00065

Etymology 2

From Vietnamese Kinh, via Cantonese.

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): jīng (jing¹)

  (Zhuyin): ㄐㄧㄥ

• Cantonese (Jyutping): ging¹

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: jīng
    • Zhuyin: ㄐㄧㄥ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: jing
    • Wade–Giles: ching¹
    • Yale: jīng
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: jing
    • Palladius: цзин (czin)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/
• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
    • Jyutping: ging¹
    • Yale: gīng
    • Cantonese Pinyin: ging¹
    • Guangdong Romanization: ging¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /kɪŋ⁵⁵/

---

• Dialectal data

Variety	Location	edit 京
Mandarin	Beijing	/t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/
	Harbin	/t͡ɕiŋ⁴⁴/
	Tianjin	/t͡ɕiŋ²¹/
	Jinan	/t͡ɕiŋ²¹³/
	Qingdao	/t͡ɕiŋ²¹³/
	Zhengzhou	/t͡ɕiŋ²⁴/
	Xi'an	/t͡ɕiŋ²¹/
	Xining	/t͡ɕiə̃⁴⁴/
	Yinchuan	/t͡ɕiŋ⁴⁴/
	Lanzhou	/t͡ɕĩn³¹/
	Ürümqi	/t͡ɕiŋ⁴⁴/
	Wuhan	/t͡ɕin⁵⁵/
	Chengdu	/t͡ɕin⁵⁵/
	Guiyang	/t͡ɕin⁵⁵/
	Kunming	/t͡ɕĩ⁴⁴/
	Nanjing	/t͡ɕin³¹/
	Hefei	/t͡ɕin²¹/
Jin	Taiyuan	/t͡ɕiəŋ¹¹/
	Pingyao	/t͡ɕiŋ¹³/ /t͡ɕi¹³/ ～陵城
	Hohhot	/t͡ɕĩŋ³¹/
Wu	Shanghai	/t͡ɕiŋ⁵³/
	Suzhou	/t͡ɕin⁵⁵/
	Hangzhou	/t͡ɕin³³/
	Wenzhou	/t͡ɕaŋ³³/
Hui	Shexian	/t͡ɕiʌ̃³¹/
	Tunxi	/t͡ɕiɛ¹¹/
Xiang	Changsha	/t͡ɕin³³/
	Xiangtan	/t͡ɕin³³/
Gan	Nanchang	/t͡ɕin⁴²/
Hakka	Meixian	/kin⁴⁴/
	Taoyuan	/kin²⁴/
Cantonese	Guangzhou	/keŋ⁵³/
	Nanning	/keŋ⁵⁵/
	Hong Kong	/kiŋ⁵⁵/
Min	Xiamen (Hokkien)	/kiŋ⁵⁵/ /kiã⁵⁵/
	Fuzhou (Eastern Min)	/kiŋ⁴⁴/
	Jian'ou (Northern Min)	/keiŋ⁵⁴/
	Shantou (Teochew)	/kiã³³/
	Haikou (Hainanese)	/keŋ²³/

Adjective

京

1. ethnic Vietnamese from China

Compounds

• 京族 (Jīngzú)

 

Japanese

Kanji

京

(Second grade kyōiku kanji)

1. capital city
2. ten quadrillion (short scale); ten thousand billion (long scale); 10¹⁶
3. Tokyo
4. Kyoto

Readings

• Go-on: きょう (kyō, Jōyō)^{←きやう (kyau, historical)}
• Kan-on: けい (kei, Jōyō)
• Tō-on: きん (kin)
• Kun: みやこ (miyako, 京)
• Nanori: あつ (atsu); たか (taka)

Compounds

• 京表(きょうおもて) (kyōomote)
• 京女(きょうおんな) (kyōonna)
• 京方(きょうがた) (kyōgata)
• 京形(きょうがた) (kyōgata)
• 京響(きょうきょう) (kyōkyō)
• 京劇(きょうげき) (kyōgeki)
• 京大(きょうだい) (Kyōdai)
• 京地(きょうち) (kyōchi)
• 京都(きょうと) (Kyōto)
• 京菜(きょうな) (kyōna)
• 京人形(きょうにんぎょう) (kyōningyō)
• 京風(きょうふう) (kyōfū)
• 京物(きょうもの) (kyōmono)
• 京華(けいか) (keika)
• 京師(けいし) (keishi)
• 京滋(けいじ) (Keiji)
• 京人(けいじん) (keijin)
• 京成(けいせい) (keisei)
• 京阪(けいはん) (Keihan)
• 京浜(けいひん) (Keihin)
• 京葉(けいよう) (Keiyō)
• 京洛(きょうらく) (kyōraku)
• 英京(えいきょう) (eikyō)
• 帰京(ききょう) (kikyō)
• 在京(ざいきょう) (zaikyō)
• 出京(しゅっきょう) (shukkyō)
• 退京(たいきょう) (taikyō)
• 滞京(たいきょう) (taikyō)
• 中京(ちゅうきょう) (Chūkyō)
• 帝京(ていきょう) (teikyō)
• 東京(とうきょう) (Tōkyō)
• 南京(なんきょう) (Nankyō)
• 入京(にゅうきょう) (nyūkyō)
• 北京(ほっきょう) (Hokkyō)
• 平安京(へいあんきょう) (Heian-kyō)
• 平城京(へいじょうきょう) (Heijō-kyō)
• 離京(りっきょう) (rikkyō)

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
京
きょう Grade: 2
on'yomi

From Middle Chinese 京 (MC kjaeng).

Noun

京(きょう) • (kyō) ^{←きやう (kyau)?}

1. capital city
2. Short for 京都 (Kyōto, “Kyōto (a city in Kyōto, Japan)”).

   京言葉(きょうことば) (kyōkotoba)

   京(きょう)の着倒(きだお)れ、大阪(おおさか)の食(く)い倒(だお)れ

   Kyō no kidaore, Ōsaka no kuidaore

   Spend Your Money on Fashion in Kyoto, eat till you’re broke in Osaka

Affix

京(きょう) • (kyō) ^{←きやう (kyau)?}

1. capital city

   Synonym: (literary) 洛 (raku)

2. (specifically) Kyōto (a city in Kyōto, Japan)

   Synonym: (literary) 洛 (raku)

3. (especially) Tōkyō (a province of Japan)

   上京(じょうきょう) (jōkyō)

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
京
みやこ Grade: 2
kun'yomi

宮 (miya, “imperial palace”) +‎ 処 (ko, “place”).

Noun

京(みやこ) • (miyako) 

1. the place where the emperor resides
2. a city that acts as an economic and political center; capital
3. metropolis

Etymology 3

Kanji in this term
京
けい Grade: 2
on'yomi

Number

京(けい) • (kei) 

1. 10,000,000,000,000,000, 10¹⁶, (US) ten quadrillion, (UK) ten thousand billion

See also

Japanese numerical compounds with 京(けい) (kei)
1016	2 × 1016	3 × 1016	4 × 1016	5 × 1016	6 × 1016	7 × 1016	8 × 1016	9 × 1016	1017	1018
一(いっ)京(けい) (ikkei)	二(に)京(けい) (nikei)	三(さん)京(けい) (sankei)	四(よん)京(けい) (yonkei)	五(ご)京(けい) (gokei)	六(ろっ)京(けい) (rokkei)	七(なな)京(けい) (nanakei)	八(はっ)京(けい) (hakkei)	九(きゅう)京(けい) (kyūkei)	十(じゅっ)京(けい) (jukkei)	百(ひゃっ)京(けい) (hyakkei)

Korean

Alternative forms

• 경 (亰, gyeong)

Etymology

From Middle Chinese 京 (MC kjaeng). (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “what is its historical reading?”)

Hanja

京 (eumhun 서울 경 (seoul gyeong))
京 (eumhun 경 경 (gyeong gyeong))

1. hanja form^? of 경 (“capital”)
2. hanja form^? of 경 (“10,000,000,000,000,000, 10¹⁶, (US) ten quadrillion, (UK) ten thousand billion”)

Compounds

• 경부 (京釜, Gyeongbu, “Seoul and Busan”)
• 경인 (京仁, Gyeong'in, “Seoul and Incheon”)
• 상경 (上京, sanggyeong, “going to capital city”)
• 동경 (東京, Donggyeong, “Tokyo”)
• 북경 (北京, Bukgyeong, “Beijing”)
• 경기도 (京畿道, Gyeonggido, “Gyeonggi”)

See also

• 서울 (Seoul, “capital; Seoul”)
• 수도 (首都, sudo, “capital”)

References

• 국제퇴계학회 대구경북지부 (國際退溪學會 大邱慶北支部) (2007). Digital Hanja Dictionary, 전자사전／電子字典. [2]
• Supreme Court of the Republic of Korea (대한민국 대법원, Daehanmin'guk Daebeobwon) (2018). Table of hanja for personal names (인명용 한자표 / 人名用漢字表, Inmyeong-yong hanja-pyo), page 3. [3]

Vietnamese

Han character

京: Hán Việt readings: kinh, nguyên
京: Nôm readings: kinh, kiêng, kềnh, kình

Noun

京 • (kinh)

1. chữ Hán form of kinh (“capital city”).

Adjective

京 • (Kinh)

1. chữ Hán form of Kinh (“ethnically Vietnamese”).

Verb

京 • (kiêng)

1. Nôm form of kiêng (“to respect”).