The Meaning of kinō [機能] In Japanese

機能
きのう
Romaji: kinō N3

What does 機能 mean?

Translation and Meaning

function, capability, feature, usefulness

Definition

機能 means the function, role, or capability of something; in practice it describes what a thing can do, how it works, or the features it provides. In technology and software it refers to features or capabilities; in biology it denotes the physiological role of an organ or organism; in business or everyday talk it can describe the purpose or utility of a process, tool, or system.

Type

noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • primary sense: the function or capability of a device, system, organ, or process
  • feature sense: the set of features or functionalities offered by a product or service
  • biological sense: the physiological role of a body part or organism
  • conceptual sense: the purpose or intended use within a larger system or workflow

Etymology

機 indicates mechanism or device; 能 indicates ability or capability; combined they form kinō, the word for function or functionality, with the reading showing the on’yomi form.

Composition

  • 機: machine, mechanism; 能: ability, capability; together denote the capacity of a mechanism to perform tasks

Usage

Used in formal, technical, and academic language across IT, engineering, medicine, and science, as well as in consumer tech discussions. Common patterns include 機能を持つ, 機能がある, 機能を追加する, and 機能停止; it can describe not only machines but also organs, systems, processes, and abstract roles.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: imagine a gear marked with the 能 badge; when it turns, it reveals what it can do—its function.

Variations

  • 機能性 (kinōsei) — the quality or state of being functional
  • 性能 (seinō) — performance or capability
  • 役割 (yakuwari) — role within a system

Example Phrases

  • 新しいスマホ の 機能 を 実際に 試した。
    Atarashii sumaho no kinou o jissai ni tameshita.
    I actually tried the features of the new smartphone.
    Lista:
    • 新しい (atarashii) – new
    • スマホ (sumaho) – smartphone
    • の (no) – of
    • 機能 (kinou) – function / feature
    • を (o) – object marker
    • 実際に (jissai ni) – actually
    • 試した (tameshita) – tried
    In this sentence, 「機能」 means features or capabilities of a device; the possessive の connects 「機能」 to 「新しいスマホ」.
機能