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道Nihongo Path
看

看·watch over, look after

On-yomi
カン
Kun-yomi
none

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

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

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

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
看護師かんごしnurse
看板かんばんsignboard
看病かんびょうnursing a sick person
看護かんごnursing, care

Example sentences

  1. 姉は病院で看護師をしている。

    あねはびょういんでかんごしをしている。

    My older sister works as a nurse at a hospital.

  2. 母が風邪をひいたので看病した。

    ははがかぜをひいたのでかんびょうした。

    My mother caught a cold, so I looked after her.

  3. 店の看板が風で倒れた。

    みせのかんばんがかぜでたおれた。

    The shop sign was blown over by the wind.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 看護師 as かんごしゃ — the modern title is かんごし
  • Assuming 看 means simply to look; it carries the sense of watching over and caring for

Memory aid

Picture it

A hand shading the eye (目) to watch carefully — keeping a close eye on a patient or a sign.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 看 mean?