済
済·finish, settle
- On-yomi
- サイ
- Kun-yomi
- すむすませる
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 経済 | けいざい | economy |
| 済む | すむ | to be finished, to be settled |
| 済ませる | すませる | to finish off, to get done |
| 返済 | へんさい | repayment |
Example sentences
宿題はもう済みました。
しゅくだいはもうすみました。
I've already finished my homework.
昼ご飯はパンで済ませた。
ひるごはんはパンですませた。
I made do with bread for lunch.
大学で経済を勉強しています。
だいがくでけいざいをべんきょうしています。
I'm studying economics at university.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Reading 経済 as *けいさい — the sai voices to ざい here
- Mixing up 済む (a matter comes to an end) with 住む (to live somewhere), both すむ
Memory aid
Picture it
Water (氵) running level and even (斉) again after the flood — things have settled.
Vocabulary using this kanji
- 済ませるすませるto finish, get done
- 経済的けいざいてきeconomical, financial
- 経済けいざいeconomy, economics
- 済むすむto be finished, be settled
- 返済するへんさいするto repay
- 決済するけっさいするto settle (payment)
- 成り済ますなりすますto impersonate
- 済みませんすみませんsorry; excuse me; thank you (for the trouble taken)
- 救済きゅうさいrelief; aid; rescue; salvation; help
- 返済へんさいrepayment (of a debt or loan)
- 済ますすますto finish; to get something over with; to settle; to make do (with)
- 済まないすまないsorry; I'm sorry (casual apology); inexcusable
Quick check
1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 2 of 5
What does the kanji 済 mean?