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道Nihongo Path
尋

尋·inquire, search

On-yomi
ジン
Kun-yomi
たず(ねる)

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

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

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

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
尋ねるたずねるto ask, to inquire
尋常じんじょうordinary, normal
尋問じんもんinterrogation, questioning
尋ね人たずねびとa missing person being sought

Example sentences

  1. 駅への行き方を尋ねた。

    えきへのいきかたをたずねた。

    I asked the way to the station.

  2. この暑さは尋常ではない。

    このあつさはじんじょうではない。

    This heat is out of the ordinary.

  3. 警察が目撃者に尋問している。

    けいさつがもくげきしゃにじんもんしている。

    The police are questioning the witness.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Writing 訪ねる when you mean 'to ask' — asking is 尋ねる
  • Reading 尋常 as じんつね — it is じんじょう

Memory aid

Picture it

A hand 彐 at the top, a mouth 口 and the measure 寸 at the bottom — reaching out and measuring things by asking about them.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 尋 mean?