猿
猿·monkey
- On-yomi
- エン
- Kun-yomi
- さる
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 猿 | さる | monkey |
| 類人猿 | るいじんえん | ape |
| 猿真似 | さるまね | thoughtless imitation |
| 犬猿の仲 | けんえんのなか | being on terrible terms (lit. dog-and-monkey) |
Example sentences
山道で猿の群れに出会った。
やまみちでさるのむれにであった。
We ran into a troop of monkeys on the mountain path.
あの二人は昔から犬猿の仲だ。
あのふたりはむかしからけんえんのなかだ。
Those two have always been at each other's throats.
他社の猿真似をしても成功しない。
たしゃのさるまねをしてもせいこうしない。
Blindly copying other companies will not bring success.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Reading 犬猿 as けんさる — it is the on-reading けんえん
- 類人猿 uses エン, not さる
Memory aid
Picture it
The beast radical 犭 plus 袁 — an animal with long, loose limbs like flowing robes.
Vocabulary using this kanji
Quick check
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What does the kanji 猿 mean?