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道Nihongo Path
仁

仁·benevolence

On-yomi
ジンニ
Kun-yomi
none

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

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

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

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
仁じんbenevolence
仁義じんぎhumanity and justice, moral code
仁王におうthe Nio temple guardian statues
仁徳じんとくbenevolence, virtue

Example sentences

  1. 儒教では仁が最も重要な徳とされる。

    じゅきょうではじんがもっともじゅうようなとくとされる。

    In Confucianism benevolence is held to be the highest virtue.

  2. 寺の門に仁王像が立っている。

    てらのもんににおうぞうがたっている。

    Guardian statues stand at the temple gate.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • 仁王 uses the rare ニ reading — it is におう, not じんおう

Memory aid

Picture it

A person 亻 beside the number 二: two people face to face, and how you treat the other one is benevolence.

Quick check

1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5

What does the kanji 仁 mean?