Explore 寄 in words for approaching, stopping by and donating. Connect each reading with a whole word and a useful situation.

The idea

寄 has 11 strokes; follow the linked diagram. 寄る（よる） means to approach, while 寄せる（よせる） means to move something closer. 立ち寄る（たちよる） means to stop by; 寄付（きふ） means a donation.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample in context
寄るよるPlease come closer to the window.
立ち寄るたちよるI will stop by the shop on my way home.
寄せるよせるPlease move the chair closer to the table.
寄付きふWe donated books to the library.

Examples

  • 窓まどの近ちかくに寄よってください。Please come closer to the window.
  • 帰かえりに店みせに立たち寄よります。I will stop by the shop on my way home.
  • 猫ねこが私わたしに寄よってきました。The cat came close to me.
  • 椅子いすをテーブルに寄よせてください。Please move the chair closer to the table.
  • 図書館としょかんに本ほんを寄付きふしました。We donated books to the library.
  • 人ひとが駅えきの周まわりに寄より集あつまりました。People gathered around the station.

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

Watch out

寄る is intransitive: the cat approaches. 寄せる is transitive: someone moves the chair. Do not assume every word with 寄 is read よ; 寄付 uses き.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 寄る in hiragana.

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    よる

    寄る is よる. In the first example, someone approaches the window.

  2. Write the reading of 寄付 in hiragana.

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    きふ

    寄付 is きふ, as in donating books to a library. Learn the reading with the compound.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: 立ち＿る（たちよる）［寄／近］.

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    寄

    寄 completes 立ち寄る（たちよる）, to stop by, as at a shop on the way home.

Use it today

Write 寄 with the diagram. Cover the table, read 寄る and 寄付, and make a sentence with 立ち寄る.