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道Nihongo Path
検

検·examine, inspect, investigate

On-yomi
ケン
Kun-yomi
none

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

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

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
検査けんさinspection, examination (medical, technical)
検討けんとうconsideration, examination of a proposal
点検てんけんchecking over, going through item by item
探検たんけんexploration, expedition

Example sentences

  1. 病院で血液の検査を受けた。

    びょういんでけつえきのけんさをうけた。

    I had a blood test at the hospital.

  2. その案は来週の会議で検討します。

    そのあんはらいしゅうのかいぎでけんとうします。

    We will consider that proposal at next week's meeting.

  3. 出発前に車を点検しておこう。

    しゅっぱつまえにくるまをてんけんしておこう。

    Let's check the car over before we set off.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Mixing 検討 (けんとう, examining a proposal) with 見当 (けんとう, a guess) — same sound, opposite jobs
  • Writing 保健 for 保険 or 検 for 険 — the left-hand radical is what distinguishes them

Memory aid

Picture it

木 (wood) beside 僉 (gather and compare): timber laid out side by side to be inspected piece by piece.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5

What does the kanji 検 mean?