Recognize 加 in 加える, 参加 and 増加; learn each complete word in context.

The idea

加える (くわえる) means to add; 参加 (さんか) means participation; 増加 (ぞうか) means increase. 加 has 5 strokes; follow the linked KanjiVG diagram to write them in order. Learn each reading with its word. Sino-Japanese reading: カ（参加）; Japanese-origin reading: くわ（加える）.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingMeaning
加えるくわえるto add
参加さんかparticipation
増加ぞうかincrease

Examples

  • 紅茶こうちゃに砂糖さとうを加くわえます。I add sugar to the tea.
  • 彼かれは料理りょうりに塩しおを少すこし加くわえました。He added a little salt to the dish.
  • 明日あしたの会議かいぎに参加さんかします。I will attend tomorrow’s meeting.
  • 地域ちいきのイベントに参加さんかしました。I took part in a local event.
  • 利用者りようしゃの数かずが増加ぞうかしました。The number of users increased.
  • 最近さいきん、この町まちでは車くるまの数かずが増加ぞうかしています。Recently, the number of cars in this town has been increasing.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

加える takes を for what is added and に for what receives it. 加わる, by contrast, is intransitive: a person or thing joins or is added to a group. Compare 加 and 架; their components differ: 加＝力＋口；架＝加＋木.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 加える in hiragana.

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    くわえる

    加える is read くわえる and means to add.

  2. Write the reading of 参加 in hiragana.

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    さんか

    参加 is read さんか and means participation.

  3. Fill in the missing kanji: 増＿（ぞうか）.

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    加

    加 completes 増加, read ぞうか; the word means increase.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 加 from memory, then read 加える and 参加 aloud and make a sentence with one of them.