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道Nihongo Path
研

研·polish, research

On-yomi
ケン
Kun-yomi
と(ぐ)

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

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

9 strokes, numbered in writing order. Data: KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
研究けんきゅうresearch
研修けんしゅうtraining
研究室けんきゅうしつlaboratory, professor's office
研ぐとぐto sharpen, to wash (rice)

Example sentences

  1. 大学で日本語を研究しています。

    だいがくでにほんごをけんきゅうしています。

    I do research on Japanese at university.

  2. 来月、会社で研修があります。

    らいげつ、かいしゃでけんしゅうがあります。

    There's training at the company next month.

  3. 先生の研究室に行きました。

    せんせいのけんきゅうしつにいきました。

    I went to my professor's office.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • 研 hardly ever stands alone; the kun-verb 研ぐ (とぐ) is used for sharpening knives or washing rice.

Memory aid

Picture it

A stone (石) rubbed down flat and level (开) — polishing, and by extension grinding away at a question.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 研 mean?