Explore 触 through physical contact and encounters with ideas or culture. Learn its readings in whole words.

The idea

触 has 13 strokes; use the linked diagram for their order. 触る（さわる） and 触れる（ふれる） mean to touch; 接触（せっしょく） means contact. With 触れる, に marks what is touched or encountered.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample in context
触るさわるPlease do not touch this painting.
触れるふれるI touched the cold water with my hand.
接触せっしょくThe two cars came into contact.
触れるふれるThe museum gave me a chance to experience Japanese culture.

Examples

  • この絵えには触さわらないでください。Please do not touch this painting.
  • 冷つめたい水みずに手てで触ふれました。I touched the cold water with my hand.
  • 二台にだいの車くるまが接触せっしょくしました。The two cars came into contact.
  • 博物館はくぶつかんで日本にほんの文化ぶんかに触ふれる機会きかいを得えました。The museum gave me a chance to experience Japanese culture.
  • 熱あつい表面ひょうめんとの接触せっしょくを避さけてください。Please avoid contact with the hot surface.
  • 先生せんせいはその問題もんだいに少すこし触ふれました。The teacher briefly mentioned that issue.

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

Watch out

触れる can also mean experiencing culture or mentioning a topic; it does not always describe physical touch. Do not confuse 触 with its component 角.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 触る in hiragana.

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    さわる

    触る is さわる: the painting example asks you not to touch it. Learn the reading with the whole verb.

  2. Write the reading of 接触 in hiragana.

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    せっしょく

    接触 is せっしょく: the two cars came into contact. The small っ makes a consonant pause.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: 接＿（せっしょく）［触／角］.

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    触

    触 completes 接触（せっしょく）, contact. 角 alone cannot complete this word.

Use it today

Write 触 following the diagram. Cover the table, read 触る and 接触, then make a sentence with 触れる.