oku

Oku is a term with multiple uses, most often encountered in Japanese. The kanji 奥 is read oku and carries meanings such as interior, inside, depth, or the back of something. It is used to describe physical spaces as well as abstract concepts of distance or behind-ness, and it appears in many compounds that convey the idea of the inner part or remote area of something.

In place names and personal names, Oku appears as a surname or given name in Japan, and as part of toponyms that imply an interior or secluded location. The usage as a surname occurs among Japanese speakers and may be represented by the same kanji.

Beyond Japanese usage, Oku may appear in transliterations and cross-linguistic contexts as a romanized form; it can be found in titles, product names, or literary works referencing the concept of depth or interior in Japanese.

Notable Japanese compounds include 奥義 (ougi, "secret technique"), illustrating the association of oku with depth or hidden inner meaning; and Ōshū (奥州), a historical region, showing the on-reading usage in place names.