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道Nihongo Path
警

警·warn, guard, police

On-yomi
ケイ
Kun-yomi
none

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

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

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

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
警察けいさつthe police
警告けいこくwarning
警官けいかんpolice officer
警備けいびsecurity, guarding

Example sentences

  1. 事故のあと、警察に電話しました。

    じこのあと、けいさつにでんわしました。

    After the accident I called the police.

  2. 画面に警告が出ています。

    がめんにけいこくがでています。

    A warning is showing on the screen.

  3. その建物は警備が厳しいです。

    そのたてもののけいびはきびしいです。

    Security at that building is strict.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 警察 as けいざつ instead of けいさつ
  • Confusing 警官 (an individual officer) with 警察 (the police as an organisation)

Memory aid

Picture it

Respectful words (敬 over 言) spoken sharply — a warning delivered in an official voice.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 警 mean?