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道Nihongo Path
系

系·system, lineage

On-yomi
ケイ
Kun-yomi
none

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

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

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

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
体系たいけいsystem, organized body
系統けいとうlineage, system
家系かけいfamily line
太陽系たいようけいsolar system

Example sentences

  1. 彼は理系の大学に進んだ。

    かれはりけいのだいがくにすすんだ。

    He went on to a science-track university.

  2. この問題は電気系統の故障が原因だ。

    このもんだいはでんきけいとうのこしょうがげんいんだ。

    This trouble is caused by a fault in the electrical system.

  3. わが家の家系には医者が多い。

    わがやのかけいにはいしゃがおおい。

    There are many doctors in my family line.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 家系 as かけ — it is かけい
  • Writing 系 with the person radical, producing 係

Memory aid

Picture it

A hand at the top holding a hanging thread (糸) — a line of descent dangling down from an ancestor.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 系 mean?