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道Nihongo Path
葬

葬·bury, funeral

On-yomi
ソウ
Kun-yomi
ほうむ(る)

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.

12 strokes, numbered in writing order. Data: KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
葬式そうしきfuneral
葬儀そうぎfuneral service
葬るほうむるto bury, consign to oblivion
火葬かそうcremation

Example sentences

  1. 明日、祖父の葬式に出ます。

    あした、そふのそうしきにでます。

    I am attending my grandfather's funeral tomorrow.

  2. その事件は闇に葬られた。

    そのじけんはやみにほうむられた。

    The incident was buried in darkness.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 葬儀 as そうがい — it is そうぎ.
  • Forgetting the middle 死: 葬 is grass, death, grass, top to bottom.

Memory aid

Picture it

Grass 艹 on top, grass 廾 at the bottom, 死 (death) in the middle — a body laid to rest between the grasses.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 葬 mean?