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道Nihongo Path
遠

遠·distant, far

On-yomi
えんおん
Kun-yomi
とお.い

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

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

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
遠いとおいfar, distant
遠慮えんりょreserve, holding back out of politeness
遠足えんそくschool excursion, outing
永遠えいえんeternity

Example sentences

  1. 駅は家から少し遠いです。

    えきはいえからすこしとおいです。

    The station is a little far from my house.

  2. どうぞ遠慮しないで食べてください。

    どうぞえんりょしないでたべてください。

    Please don't hold back — help yourself.

  3. 明日、子どもたちは山へ遠足に行きます。

    あした、こどもたちはやまへえんそくにいきます。

    Tomorrow the children are going on an outing to the mountains.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 遠慮 as えんりょう — it is short: えんりょ
  • Writing the kun reading as とうい; it is とおい

Memory aid

Picture it

The road radical 辶 under a long robe 袁: a journey long enough that you pack proper clothes for it.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 遠 mean?