倹
倹·frugal, thrifty, economical
- On-yomi
- ケン
- Kun-yomi
- つま(しい)
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 倹約 | けんやく | thrift, economising |
| 倹約家 | けんやくか | a thrifty person |
| 勤倹 | きんけん | diligence and thrift |
| 倹しい | つましい | frugal, modest (of a way of living) |
Example sentences
母は倹約家で、無駄遣いをしない。
はははけんやくかで、むだづかいをしない。
My mother is thrifty and never wastes money.
電気代を倹約するためにエアコンを控えている。
でんきだいをけんやくするためにエアコンをひかえている。
We are going easy on the air conditioning to economise on electricity.
二人は倹しい暮らしを続けてきた。
ふたりはつましいくらしをつづけてきた。
The two of them have gone on living modestly.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Writing 倹約 as 検約 — the thrifty one is a person 亻
- Confusing 倹約 (spending carefully) with 節約 (cutting down on use) — 節約 is the everyday word
Memory aid
Picture it
A person 亻 beside the element shared with 検 and 険: someone who checks every expense before letting it go — thrift.
Vocabulary using this kanji
Quick check
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What does the kanji 倹 mean?