位
位·rank, position, place
- On-yomi
- イ
- Kun-yomi
- くらい
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 位置 | いち | position, location |
| 一位 | いちい | first place |
| 地位 | ちい | social position, status |
| 単位 | たんい | unit; course credit |
Example sentences
兄はマラソンで三位になりました。
あにはまらそんでさんいになりました。
My older brother came third in the marathon.
机の位置を少し変えましょう。
つくえのいちをすこしかえましょう。
Let's shift the position of the desk a little.
今年は単位が足りなくて心配です。
ことしはたんいがたりなくてしんぱいです。
I'm worried because I'm short on course credits this year.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Reading 三位 as さんい in everyday speech but writing さんみ — in sports it is さんい
- Mixing up the kun reading くらい (rank) with the particle-like くらい/ぐらい meaning 'about'
Memory aid
Picture it
A person (亻) standing (立) on a marked spot — that spot is their rank.
Vocabulary using this kanji
- 単位たんいcredit (academic), unit
- 位置いちposition, location, place (where something sits)
- 位くらいgrade, rank; about, approximately; digit place
- 地位ちい(social) position, status
- 学位がくいacademic degree
- 各位かくいeveryone (in letters); Dear all
- 位置付けるいちづけるto position, to place (in a framework)
- 優位ゆういpredominance; ascendancy; superiority; the upper hand
- 下位かいlow rank; a lower position; subordinate; lower order (e.g. of a byte)
- 上位じょういhigh rank; top places; superior position; higher order (e.g. byte); upper (in a hierarchy)
- 位地いちposition; location; place; standing
Quick check
1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 2 of 5
What does the kanji 位 mean?