誕
誕·birth, be born, nativity
- On-yomi
- タン
- Kun-yomi
- none
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 誕生 | たんじょう | birth, coming into being |
| 誕生日 | たんじょうび | birthday |
| 生誕 | せいたん | birth (of a notable person) |
| 降誕 | こうたん | nativity, descent (of a deity) |
Example sentences
昨日は妹の誕生日だった。
きのうはいもうとのたんじょうびだった。
Yesterday was my little sister's birthday.
新しい制度がついに誕生した。
あたらしいせいどがついにたんじょうした。
A new system has finally come into being.
今年は作曲家の生誕二百年に当たる。
ことしはさっきょくかのせいたんにひゃくねんにあたる。
This year marks two hundred years since the composer's birth.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- 誕 never appears alone — it needs 生 or another partner
- 誕生 is used of things as well as people: a new company, a new record, a new era
Memory aid
Picture it
言 (words) beside 延 (stretch out): the announcement that a life has been stretched out into the world.
Vocabulary using this kanji
Quick check
1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5
What does the kanji 誕 mean?