勘(かん)

かん
noun
intuition, instinct, sixth sense
1. intuition, instinct
The ability to understand something without conscious reasoning.
勘(かん)がいい。
To have good intuition.
勘(かん)で答(こた)えた。
I answered by intuition.
長年(ながねん)の経験(けいけん)で勘(かん)が鋭(するど)くなった。
Years of experience sharpened my intuition.
2. sixth sense, gut feeling
A natural sense or perception beyond the five senses.
何(なに)か変(へん)だと勘(かん)が働(はたら)いた。
My gut told me something was off.
勘(かん)を頼(たよ)りに道(みち)を探(さが)した。
I searched for the way relying on my instincts.
彼女(かのじょ)は勘(かん)の鋭(するど)い人(ひと)で、嘘(うそ)をつくとすぐに気(き)づく。
She has a keen sixth sense and immediately notices when someone is lying.

勘(かん) refers to intuitive understanding or a gut feeling developed through experience. It is not logical reasoning but rather an instinctive sense.

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

  • 勘(かん)がいい: to have good intuition
  • 勘(かん)が悪(わる)い: to have poor intuition
  • 勘(かん)が鋭(するど)い: to have sharp intuition
  • 勘(かん)が働(はたら)く: one's intuition kicks in
  • 勘(かん)を頼(たよ)りに: relying on intuition
  • 勘(かん)で分(わ)かる: to know by instinct

COMPOUNDS:

  • 勘違(かんちが)い: misunderstanding, wrong assumption
  • 勘定(かんじょう): calculation; bill (at a restaurant)
  • 勘弁(かんべん): forgiveness, pardon

CONTRAST:

  • 勘(かん): intuition (from experience, non-rational)
  • 直感(ちょっかん): intuition (sudden insight, flash of understanding)
  • 予感(よかん): premonition, feeling something will happen

Related Words

Contrast: 直感(ちょっかん) (sudden insight)
Contrast: 予感(よかん) (premonition)
general
Added 2026.1.9 21:39 · Revised 2026.4.5 16:46
02000/02149_kan