存
存·exist
- On-yomi
- ソンゾン
- 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 存在 | そんざい | existence |
| 保存 | ほぞん | preservation, saving |
| ご存じ | ごぞんじ | knowing (honorific) |
| 生存 | せいぞん | survival |
Example sentences
そんな動物は本当に存在するのでしょうか。
そんなどうぶつはほんとうにそんざいするのでしょうか。
Does such an animal really exist?
野菜は冷蔵庫で保存します。
やさいはれいぞうこでほぞんします。
Vegetables are kept in the fridge.
この店をご存じですか。
このみせをごぞんじですか。
Do you know this shop?
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Both ソン and ゾン occur: 存在 そんざい, but 保存 ほぞん and ご存じ ごぞんじ
- ご存じですか is honorific about the listener — never use it about yourself (say 存じております instead)
Memory aid
Picture it
A child 子 sheltered under a leaning stroke — keep the child safe and the family goes on existing.
Vocabulary using this kanji
- 保存ほぞんsave, preservation
- 存在そんざいexistence
- ご存じごぞんじknowing (honorific), being acquainted with
- 存じるぞんじるto know, think (humble)
- 依存するいぞんするto depend on, to rely on (often excessively)
- 存続するそんぞくするto continue to exist, to survive (an institution)
- 存ずるぞんずる(humble) to know, to be aware of; to think, to believe
- 生存せいぞんexistence, survival, staying alive
- 依存症いぞんしょうaddiction, dependence
- 依存いぞんdependence, reliance
- 共存きょうぞんcoexistence
- 存続そんぞくcontinued existence; survival; duration
Quick check
1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 2 of 5
What does the kanji 存 mean?