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道Nihongo Path
謹

謹·respectfully, humble

On-yomi
キン
Kun-yomi
つつし(む)

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

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

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

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
謹慎きんしんdisciplinary confinement, being grounded
謹んでつつしんでrespectfully, humbly
謹賀新年きんがしんねんHappy New Year (formal greeting)
謹呈きんていpresented with respect

Example sentences

  1. 謹んでお悔やみ申し上げます。

    つつしんでおくやみもうしあげます。

    Please accept my sincere condolences.

  2. 年賀状に謹賀新年と書いた。

    ねんがじょうにきんがしんねんとかいた。

    I wrote the formal New Year greeting on the card.

  3. 選手は一週間の謹慎処分を受けた。

    せんしゅはいっしゅうかんのきんしんしょぶんをうけた。

    The player was suspended for a week.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing 謹む (to do respectfully) with 慎む (to refrain, hold back) — both つつしむ
  • Reading 謹慎 as きんじん — it is きんしん

Memory aid

Picture it

The speech radical 言 on the left: choosing every word with care — speaking respectfully.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 謹 mean?