拙
拙·clumsy, unskilled, my (humble)
- On-yomi
- セツ
- Kun-yomi
- つたな(い)
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 拙い | つたない | poor, clumsy, unskilled |
| 稚拙 | ちせつ | childish, unskilful |
| 拙速 | せっそく | hasty and rough |
| 巧拙 | こうせつ | skill (good or bad), quality of workmanship |
Example sentences
拙い日本語ですみません。
つたないにほんごですみません。
Sorry for my poor Japanese.
稚拙な絵だが味がある。
ちせつなえだがあじがある。
The painting is unskilled, but it has charm.
拙速な判断は避けたい。
せっそくなはんだんはさけたい。
I want to avoid a hasty, half-baked decision.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Reading 拙い as まずい — it is つたない
- 拙 is often used humbly about your own work, so 拙い〜 is modest, not an insult
Memory aid
Picture it
Hand 扌 beside 出 'come out': what comes out of these hands is poor work.
Vocabulary using this kanji
Quick check
1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5
What does the kanji 拙 mean?