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道Nihongo Path
冊

冊·counter for books, volume, booklet

On-yomi
サツサク
Kun-yomi
none

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

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

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

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
一冊いっさつone book
冊子さっしbooklet, pamphlet
別冊べっさつseparate volume, supplement
短冊たんざくstrip of paper for writing a wish or poem

Example sentences

  1. 本を三冊借りました。

    ほんをさんさつかりました。

    I borrowed three books.

  2. 受付で冊子をもらってください。

    うけつけでさっしをもらってください。

    Please pick up a booklet at the reception desk.

  3. 七夕には短冊に願い事を書く。

    たなばたにはたんざくにねがいごとをかく。

    At Tanabata, people write wishes on paper strips.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 一冊 as いちさつ — it is いっさつ; 八冊 is はっさつ
  • Using 冊 for magazines you count as 部 (copies of a print run)

Memory aid

Picture it

Bamboo strips bound side by side with a cord through the middle — the oldest form of a book.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 冊 mean?