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道Nihongo Path
臆

臆·timid, cowardly, surmise

On-yomi
オク
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
臆病おくびょうcowardice, timidity
臆するおくするto be daunted, to flinch
臆測おくそくspeculation, guesswork
臆面おくめんa look of embarrassment

Example sentences

  1. 弟は臆病で暗い所が苦手だ。

    おとうとはおくびょうでくらいところがにがてだ。

    My younger brother is timid and doesn't like dark places.

  2. 彼女は臆せず自分の意見を述べた。

    かのじょはおくせずじぶんのいけんをのべた。

    She stated her opinion without flinching.

  3. それはただの臆測にすぎない。

    それはただのおくそくにすぎない。

    That is nothing more than speculation.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Writing 憶病 for 臆病 — the timid word uses the flesh-radical 臆
  • Reading 臆病 as おくびょう vs. mistakenly おくびょうき

Memory aid

Picture it

The body (月, flesh) reacting to a thought (意) — the gut clenching before you dare to act.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 臆 mean?