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道Nihongo Path
爵

爵·peerage, rank

On-yomi
シャク
Kun-yomi
none

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
爵位しゃくいpeerage, title of nobility
公爵こうしゃくduke
男爵だんしゃくbaron
伯爵はくしゃくcount, earl

Example sentences

  1. 彼は伯爵の家に生まれた。

    かれははくしゃくのいえにうまれた。

    He was born into the family of a count.

  2. 明治政府は華族に爵位を与えた。

    めいじせいふはかぞくにしゃくいをあたえた。

    The Meiji government granted titles of nobility to the peerage.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • 公爵 (duke) and 侯爵 (marquis) are both こうしゃく — only the first kanji tells them apart
  • Reading 男爵 as だんしゃく is correct, but 爵 is never じゃく

Memory aid

Picture it

A tall, many-part shape with 寸 (a hand) at the bottom: a ceremonial cup being received with both hands at the ceremony where a rank is conferred.

Quick check

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What does the kanji 爵 mean?