Skip to content
道Nihongo Path
甚

甚·extremely, excessive

On-yomi
ジン
Kun-yomi
はなは(だ)はなは(だしい)

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

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

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

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
甚大じんだいenormous, immense
甚だしいはなはだしいextreme, outrageous
激甚げきじんsevere, extreme (as in disaster designations)
幸甚こうじんgreatly obliged (formal letters)

Example sentences

  1. 台風で甚大な被害が出た。

    たいふうでじんだいなひがいがでた。

    The typhoon caused enormous damage.

  2. 彼の思い違いも甚だしい。

    かれのおもいちがいもはなはだしい。

    He could hardly be more mistaken.

  3. ご協力いただければ幸甚です。

    ごきょうりょくいただければこうじんです。

    I would be most grateful for your cooperation.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 甚大 as じんたい — it is じんだい
  • 甚だしい is used of bad things (誤解も甚だしい); it is not a neutral 'very'

Memory aid

Picture it

甘 'sweet' on top of a wide base: far too much of a good thing — excess taken to an extreme.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5

What does the kanji 甚 mean?