僧
僧·Buddhist monk
- On-yomi
- ソウ
- 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 僧侶 | そうりょ | Buddhist monk |
| 高僧 | こうそう | high priest |
| 尼僧 | にそう | nun |
| 禅僧 | ぜんそう | Zen monk |
Example sentences
寺で若い僧侶に道を尋ねた。
てらでわかいそうりょにみちをたずねた。
I asked a young monk for directions at the temple.
その寺は高僧が開いたと伝えられる。
そのてらはこうそうがひらいたとつたえられる。
That temple is said to have been founded by a high priest.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Reading 僧 as ゾウ from 増/憎 — as a monk it is ソウ
- Writing 憎む with 僧 instead of 憎
Memory aid
Picture it
A person 亻 beside 曽 'layered, repeated' — the man in layered robes who repeats the sutras day after day.
Vocabulary using this kanji
Quick check
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What does the kanji 僧 mean?