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道Nihongo Path
談

談·talk, discussion

On-yomi
ダン
Kun-yomi
none

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

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

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

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
相談そうだんconsultation, asking advice
冗談じょうだんjoke
会談かいだんtalks, conference
面談めんだんinterview, face-to-face meeting

Example sentences

  1. ちょっと相談したいことがあります。

    ちょっとそうだんしたいことがあります。

    There's something I'd like to talk over with you.

  2. 今のは冗談ですよ。

    いまのはじょうだんですよ。

    That was a joke, you know.

  3. 来週、先生と面談があります。

    らいしゅう、せんせいとめんだんがあります。

    I have a meeting with the teacher next week.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 冗談 as じょうたん instead of じょうだん
  • Saying 相談を聞く for giving advice — you 相談に乗る (take up someone's consultation)

Memory aid

Picture it

Words (言) beside a double fire (炎) — people talking warmly around the hearth.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 2 of 5

What does the kanji 談 mean?