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道Nihongo Path
髄

髄·marrow, essence

On-yomi
ズイ
Kun-yomi
none

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

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

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

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
骨髄こつずいbone marrow
真髄しんずいessence
脊髄せきずいspinal cord
神髄しんずいessence, quintessence

Example sentences

  1. 骨髄の提供者を探している。

    こつずいのていきょうしゃをさがしている。

    They are looking for a bone marrow donor.

  2. これこそ日本料理の真髄だ。

    これこそにほんりょうりのしんずいだ。

    This is the very essence of Japanese cooking.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • 真髄 and 神髄 are both しんずい and mean the same thing

Memory aid

Picture it

The bone radical 骨 on the left: what lies inside the bone — marrow, and so the core of anything.

Quick check

1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5

What does the kanji 髄 mean?