然
然·so, thus, in that state
- On-yomi
- ゼンネン
- Kun-yomi
- none
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 自然 | しぜん | nature, natural |
| 全然 | ぜんぜん | (not) at all |
| 突然 | とつぜん | suddenly |
| 当然 | とうぜん | naturally, of course |
Example sentences
自然の中を歩くのが好きです。
しぜんのなかをあるくのがすきです。
I like walking in nature.
その話は全然知りませんでした。
そのはなしはぜんぜんしりませんでした。
I didn't know about that at all.
突然、雨が降り出した。
とつぜん、あめがふりだした。
Suddenly it started to rain.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting that 然 is ゼン in 全然 and 突然 but ネン in 天然 (てんねん)
- Never meeting 然 on its own — it only lives inside compounds
Memory aid
Picture it
The four fire dots (灬) under 月 and 犬 — a pot left cooking away just so; 然 means 'in that state'.
Vocabulary using this kanji
- 全然ぜんぜんnot at all (with negative)
- 自然しぜんnature, natural
- 突然とつぜんsuddenly, abruptly
- 天然てんねんnatural (not man-made)
- 偶然ぐうぜんchance, coincidence; by chance
- 当然とうぜんnatural, of course
- 依然としていぜんとしてstill, as before (a situation remains unchanged)
- 自然科学しぜんかがくnatural science
- 公然とこうぜんとopenly, publicly
- 悠然とゆうぜんとcalmly, composedly
- 泰然とたいぜんとcalmly, imperturbably
- 平然とへいぜんとcalmly, nonchalantly
Quick check
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What does the kanji 然 mean?