命
命·life, order, mandate
- On-yomi
- メイミョウ
- Kun-yomi
- いのち
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 命 | いのち | life |
| 命令 | めいれい | order, command |
| 生命 | せいめい | life (biological) |
| 一生懸命 | いっしょうけんめい | with all one's might |
Example sentences
医者が彼の命を救いました。
いしゃがかれのいのちをすくいました。
The doctor saved his life.
上司の命令には従います。
じょうしのめいれいにはしたがいます。
I follow my boss's orders.
毎日一生懸命に練習しています。
まいにちいっしょうけんめいにれんしゅうしています。
I practise as hard as I can every day.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Reading 一生懸命 as *いっしょうけんいのち — it is いっしょうけんめい
- Using 人生 (one's life story) where 命 (the life itself) is meant
Memory aid
Picture it
A roof over a mouth (口) and a kneeling figure — an order handed down from above; the same word covers the life you are given.
Vocabulary using this kanji
- 命いのちlife
- 生命せいめいlife
- 命令するめいれいするto order
- 命令めいれいorder, command, directive; (computing) instruction
- 命じるめいじるto order, to command; to appoint (to a post)
- 一生懸命いっしょうけんめいwith all one's might
- 人命じんめい(human) life
- 命ずるめいずるto command, to order, to appoint (to a post)
- 寿命じゅみょうlife span, lifetime, service life
- 亡命ぼうめいexile, defection
- 命題めいだいproposition, thesis
- 延命えんめいprolonging life
Quick check
1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 2 of 5
What does the kanji 命 mean?