弥
弥·all the more, increasingly, long time
- On-yomi
- ミビ
- Kun-yomi
- やいよ.いよ
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 弥生 | やよい | third month of the old calendar; the Yayoi period |
| 弥生時代 | やよいじだい | the Yayoi period |
| 阿弥陀 | あみだ | Amitabha Buddha |
| 弥 | いよいよ | more and more, at last |
Example sentences
この土器は弥生時代のものです。
このどきはやよいじだいのものです。
This pottery is from the Yayoi period.
寺には大きな阿弥陀像がある。
てらにはおおきなあみだぞうがある。
There is a large statue of Amitabha in the temple.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- 弥生 is やよい, an irregular reading — never やせい.
- いよいよ is normally written in kana today; 弥 in it is a rare spelling.
Memory aid
Picture it
A bow 弓 drawn ever further: the string is pulled more and more, hence 'increasingly'.
Quick check
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What does the kanji 弥 mean?