Skip to content
道Nihongo Path
閣

閣·tower, cabinet

On-yomi
カク
Kun-yomi
none

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

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

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

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
内閣ないかくcabinet (of government)
閣議かくぎcabinet meeting
閣僚かくりょうcabinet minister
金閣寺きんかくじKinkakuji, the Golden Pavilion

Example sentences

  1. 新しい内閣が発足した。

    あたらしいないかくがほっそくした。

    A new cabinet was formed.

  2. その方針は閣議で決まった。

    そのほうしんはかくぎできまった。

    That policy was decided at a cabinet meeting.

  3. 京都で金閣寺を見に行った。

    きょうとできんかくじをみにいった。

    I went to see the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 内閣 as ないかん
  • Assuming 閣 means gate; the gate is only the radical — 閣 is a tall pavilion, and by extension the cabinet

Memory aid

Picture it

A grand gate (門) with each storey (各) stacked above — a tall pavilion, and the high office that meets inside.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5

What does the kanji 閣 mean?