Skip to content
道Nihongo Path
慰

慰·console, comfort, solace

On-yomi
イ
Kun-yomi
なぐさ(める)なぐさ(む)

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

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

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
慰めるなぐさめるto comfort, to console
慰安いあんsolace, recreation
慰労いろうshowing appreciation for someone's efforts
慰問いもんvisit of sympathy or encouragement

Example sentences

  1. 泣いている友達を慰めた。

    ないているともだちをなぐさめた。

    I comforted my crying friend.

  2. 社員の慰労会が開かれた。

    しゃいんのいろうかいがひらかれた。

    A party was held to thank the staff for their work.

  3. その言葉に少し慰められた。

    そのことばにすこしなぐさめられた。

    Those words gave me a little comfort.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • 慰める is to console someone who is hurt; 励ます is to encourage someone facing something
  • Reading 慰労 as いろうかい by absorbing the following noun — the word is いろう

Memory aid

Picture it

心 (heart) under 尉, an iron pressed down flat: smoothing out the creases in a troubled heart.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5

What does the kanji 慰 mean?