Recognize 会 in everyday Japanese. Start with its meaning, meet; gathering, then learn to read it in whole words such as 会う and 会社.

The idea

Kanji may have Japanese-origin and Chinese-origin readings; learn each with its word. Compare 会う（あう） and 会社（かいしゃ）. 会 has 6 strokes; follow their order in the linked KanjiVG diagram.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingMeaning
会うあうto meet
会社かいしゃcompany
会議かいぎmeeting

Examples

  • 入口いりぐちは会社かいしゃの左ひだりにあります。The entrance is on the left side of the company building.
  • 午後ごごに会社かいしゃでお茶ちゃを飲のみます。I drink tea at the office in the afternoon.
  • 出口でぐちで友達ともだちに会あいます。I meet a friend at the exit.
  • 午後ごご三時さんじに駅えきで会あいます。We meet at the station at three in the afternoon.
  • 会議かいぎでは英語えいごを話はなしません。I do not speak English at meetings.
  • 明日あした、友達ともだちに会あいます。I will meet a friend tomorrow.

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

Watch out

Use に to mark the person you meet in 友達に会う; 会社 begins with かい. Compare the shape of 会 with 全 so you do not confuse them.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 会う in hiragana.

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    あう

    会う is read あう; it means to meet. Learn the reading as part of this word.

  2. Write the reading of 会社 in hiragana.

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    かいしゃ

    会社 is read かいしゃ; it means company. Learn the reading as part of this word.

  3. Fill in the missing kanji: ＿社（かいしゃ）.

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    会

    会 completes 会社, read かいしゃ; the word means company.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 会 from memory, and read 会う and 会社 aloud. Then check the readings and meanings.