宰
宰·administer, preside
- On-yomi
- サイ
- Kun-yomi
- none
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 宰相 | さいしょう | prime minister, chancellor |
| 主宰 | しゅさい | presiding over, running (a group) |
| 主宰者 | しゅさいしゃ | the person presiding, organizer |
| 宰領 | さいりょう | supervision, superintendence |
Example sentences
彼は小さな劇団を主宰している。
かれはちいさなげきだんをしゅさいしている。
He runs a small theater company.
宰相として国を導いた人物だ。
さいしょうとしてくにをみちびいたじんぶつだ。
He is a figure who led the country as its prime minister.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- 主宰 (to preside over an organization) and 主催 (to host an event) are both しゅさい — pick by whether it is a group or an occasion
- Reading 宰相 as さいそう
Memory aid
Picture it
宀 (a roof) over 辛 (hard labor): the one under the household roof who does the hard work of running everything — the steward, then the chancellor.
Quick check
1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5
What does the kanji 宰 mean?