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道Nihongo Path
邪

邪·evil, wrong, wicked

On-yomi
ジャ
Kun-yomi
none

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

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

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

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
邪魔じゃまhindrance, being in the way
風邪かぜa cold (illness)
邪悪じゃあくwickedness, evil
無邪気むじゃきinnocent, artless

Example sentences

  1. 邪魔をしてすみません。

    じゃまをしてすみません。

    Sorry to bother you.

  2. 風邪をひいて学校を休んだ。

    かぜをひいてがっこうをやすんだ。

    I caught a cold and stayed home from school.

  3. 子供の無邪気な笑顔に癒された。

    こどものむじゃきなえがおにいやされた。

    The child's innocent smile was soothing.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • 風邪 is read かぜ, a jukujikun — never ふうじゃ in ordinary use
  • お邪魔します is a set greeting on entering someone's home, not an apology for being evil

Memory aid

Picture it

A fang 牙 beside the village radical 阝: something with teeth lurking at the edge of the village — wickedness.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 邪 mean?