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道Nihongo Path
典

典·code, standard, ceremony

On-yomi
テン
Kun-yomi
none

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

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

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

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
辞典じてんdictionary
古典こてんthe classics
典型的てんけいてきtypical
式典しきてんceremony

Example sentences

  1. 電子辞典で言葉の意味を調べた。

    でんしじてんでことばのいみをしらべた。

    I looked up the meaning of the word in an electronic dictionary.

  2. それは典型的な失敗の例だ。

    それはてんけいてきなしっぱいのれいだ。

    That is a textbook example of failure.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • 辞典 (dictionary), 事典 (encyclopedia) and 字典 (character dictionary) are all じてん
  • Reading 式典 as しきでん

Memory aid

Picture it

A bundle of bound bamboo slips resting on a low stand — the authoritative books, hence a code, a classic, and the formal occasion that follows them.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 典 mean?