Discover 支 in words for supporting, branches, paying and getting ready. Learn each reading with the whole word.

The idea

支 has 4 strokes; follow the linked stroke-order diagram. 支える is ささえる, while 支店 is してん, 支払い is しはらい and 支度 is したく. The table puts these readings in context.

Patterns to compare
WordReadingExample
支えるささえるMy family supports me.
支店してんThis bank has a branch in front of the station.
支払いしはらいYou can also pay by card.
支度したくI am getting ready for a trip.

Examples

  • 家族かぞくが私わたしを支ささえています。My family supports me.
  • この銀行ぎんこうには駅前えきまえに支店してんがあります。This bank has a branch in front of the station.
  • 支払しはらいはカードでもできます。You can also pay by card.
  • 旅行りょこうの支度したくをしています。I am getting ready for a trip.
  • 柱はしらが屋根やねを支ささえています。The pillar supports the roof.
  • 支店してんで口座こうざを開ひらきました。I opened an account at the branch.

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

Watch out

The keyword “branch” does not mean that 支 alone is the usual word for a tree branch: that is 枝（えだ）. 支える can describe physical or personal support.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 支える in hiragana.

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    ささえる

    支える is ささえる: a family can support a person, and a pillar can support a roof.

  2. Write the reading of 支店 in hiragana.

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    してん

    支店 is してん, a branch office or bank branch. Learn し with the complete word.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: ＿払い（しはらい）［支／枝］.

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    支

    支 completes 支払い（しはらい）, meaning payment. 枝 is the character used for a tree branch.

Use it today

Write 支 using the diagram, then cover the table and read 支える and 支店. Make a sentence with one of them.