Japanese kanji 以: limits and exceptions

The idea

以 has 5 strokes; follow their order in the linked KanjiVG diagram. Learn 以上（いじょう） and 以内（いない） as complete words: a character’s reading depends on the word.

Examples

• 五人ごにん以上いじょうで申もうし込こめます。You can apply in a group of five or more.
• 五人ごにん以上いじょうには五人ごにんも入はいります。Five is included in ‘five or more’.
• 三日みっか以内いないに返かえしてください。Please return it within three days.
• 十歳じゅっさい以下いかは無料むりょうです。Admission is free for children aged ten and under.
• 日曜日にちようび以外いがいは毎日まいにち開あいています。It is open every day except Sunday.
• 会議かいぎ以前いぜんに資料しりょうを送おくりました。I sent the materials before the meeting.

Watch out

以上 and 以下 include the stated boundary; 未満 excludes it. 以外 excludes the named item. Compare the shapes of 以 and 似; they are different characters.

Try it yourself

1. Write the reading of 以上 in hiragana.

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   いじょう

   以上 is read いじょう. In context: You can apply in a group of five or more.

2. Write the reading of 以内 in hiragana.

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   いない

   以内 is read いない. In context: Please return it within three days.

3. Write the missing kanji: ＿上（いじょう）.

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   以

   以 completes 以上, read いじょう. In context: You can apply in a group of five or more.

4. Does 五人以上 include exactly five people? Answer はい or いいえ.

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   はい

   はい. 以上 includes the stated lower limit, so a group of five qualifies.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 以 from memory, read 以上 and 以内 aloud, then make a sentence with one of them.