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道Nihongo Path
残

残·remain, leave behind, cruel

On-yomi
ザン
Kun-yomi
のこるのこす

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

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

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

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
残るのこるto remain, to be left
残念ざんねんregrettable, a shame
残業ざんぎょうovertime work
残すのこすto leave behind, to save (some)

Example sentences

  1. ケーキがまだ少し残っています。

    けーきがまだすこしのこっています。

    There's still a bit of cake left.

  2. 行けなくて残念です。

    いけなくてざんねんです。

    It's a shame I can't go.

  3. 昨日は九時まで残業しました。

    きのうはくじまでざんぎょうしました。

    I worked overtime until nine yesterday.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Mixing 残る (intransitive, it is left) with 残す (transitive, you leave it)
  • Reading 残業 as ざんきょう instead of ざんぎょう

Memory aid

Picture it

Bare bones (歹) with two small blades beside them — what is left over after everything else is gone.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 残 mean?