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道Nihongo Path
錠

錠·tablet, lock

On-yomi
ジョウ
Kun-yomi
none

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

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

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

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
錠剤じょうざいtablet, pill
手錠てじょうhandcuffs
施錠せじょうlocking (a door)
錠前じょうまえlock (the fitting itself)

Example sentences

  1. この薬は一日三回、錠剤を二錠ずつ飲みます。

    このくすりはいちにちさんかい、じょうざいをにじょうずつのみます。

    Take two tablets of this medicine three times a day.

  2. 出かける前に必ず施錠してください。

    でかけるまえにかならずせじょうしてください。

    Be sure to lock up before you go out.

  3. 古い錠前が錆びて回らなくなっていた。

    ふるいじょうまえがさびてまわらなくなっていた。

    The old lock had rusted and would no longer turn.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 施錠 as しじょう — it is せじょう
  • Forgetting that 錠 is also the counter for tablets (二錠 = two pills)

Memory aid

Picture it

Metal (金) that fixes something in place (定) — the same word covers a door lock and a pressed, hard little pill.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 錠 mean?