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道Nihongo Path
懲

懲·penal, chastise, punish

On-yomi
ちょう
Kun-yomi
こ.りるこ.らすこ.らしめる

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

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

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
懲りるこりるto learn one's lesson, to be put off by experience
懲らしめるこらしめるto punish, to teach someone a lesson
懲役ちょうえきimprisonment with hard labour
懲戒ちょうかいdisciplinary action

Example sentences

  1. 一度失敗して懲りた。

    いちどしっぱいしてこりた。

    I failed once and learned my lesson.

  2. 被告に懲役三年の判決が下った。

    ひこくにちょうえきさんねんのはんけつがくだった。

    The defendant was sentenced to three years' imprisonment.

  3. その社員は懲戒処分を受けた。

    そのしゃいんはちょうかいしょぶんをうけた。

    That employee received a disciplinary penalty.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 懲役 as ちょうやく — it is ちょうえき
  • Confusing 懲りる (you learn from a bad experience) with 懲らしめる (you punish someone else)

Memory aid

Picture it

徴 'summon, levy' standing on a heart 心: punishment aimed at the heart so the lesson sticks.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 懲 mean?