Cross, Go Beyond
こす (kosu), こえる (koeru)
Interesting Fact
Japan has a historical region called Echizen (越前) and another called Etchū (越中). The character 越 in these names is connected to the idea of crossing over. 🏔️ In ancient geographic naming, the mountainous region of Echigo, Echū, and Echizen was associated with the old province of Koshi, located beyond the mountains from the political center of ancient Japan. The names essentially preserve a memory of geography: to people traveling from the central regions, they had to cross the mountains to reach the land beyond.
Memory Trick
🏃 A person runs(走) up the mountain, crosses over the top, and reaches the other side—that’s 越!
Readings
Onyomi: エツ (etsu)
Kunyomi: こす (kosu), こえる (koeru)
Example Words
Example Sentence
来月、新しい家へ引っ越します。
らいげつ、あたらしい いえ へ ひっこします。
raigetsu, atarashii ie e hikkoshimasu
Next month, I'll move to a new house.