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道Nihongo Path
賄

賄·bribe, cover expenses

On-yomi
ワイ
Kun-yomi
まかな(う)

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

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

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

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
賄賂わいろbribe
賄うまかなうto cover (costs), provide
収賄しゅうわいaccepting a bribe
贈賄ぞうわいoffering a bribe

Example sentences

  1. その政治家は収賄の疑いで逮捕された。

    そのせいじかはしゅうわいのうたがいでたいほされた。

    That politician was arrested on suspicion of taking bribes.

  2. この予算で寮の食費を賄っている。

    このよさんでりょうのしょくひをまかなっている。

    The dormitory's food costs are covered by this budget.

  3. 賄賂を受け取ってはならない。

    わいろをうけとってはならない。

    One must not accept bribes.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 賄賂 as わいらく — it is わいろ
  • Reading 賄う as まかなう vs. the on reading ワイ used only in compounds like 収賄

Memory aid

Picture it

Shell-money 貝 plus 有 'to have': handing over what you have in money — either to pay the bill honestly, or to buy someone off.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 賄 mean?