Meet 続 in 続く, 続ける and 手続き. Read each complete word in its context.

The idea

続 has 13 strokes; follow the linked KanjiVG diagram. Compare 続く（つづく） and 続ける（つづける）: learn each reading with the whole word.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample in context
続くつづくThe rain continued for three days.
続けるつづけるI am continuing to study Japanese.
手続きてつづきI checked the application procedure.

Examples

  • 雨あめは三日間みっかかん続つづきました。The rain continued for three days.
  • この道みちは駅えきまで続つづいています。This road continues as far as the station.
  • 健康けんこうのために毎日まいにち歩あるき続つづけます。I’ll keep walking every day for my health.
  • 日本語にほんごの勉強べんきょうを続つづけています。I am continuing to study Japanese.
  • 申もうし込こみの手続てつづきを確認かくにんしました。I checked the application procedure.
  • 手続てつづきには身分証明書みぶんしょうめいしょが必要ひつようです。Identification is required for the procedure.

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

Watch out

続く is intransitive: something continues. 続ける is transitive: someone continues an activity. 手続き means a procedure. 続 has 糸 on the left; 読 has 言. On its own, 続ける usually takes を; after a verb stem, 〜続ける means to keep doing something.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 続く in hiragana.

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    つづく

    続く is read つづく. In context: The rain continued for three days.

  2. Write the reading of 続ける in hiragana.

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    つづける

    続ける is read つづける. In context: I am continuing to study Japanese.

  3. Fill in the missing kanji: 手＿き（てつづき）.

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    続

    続 completes 手続き, read てつづき. In context: I checked the application procedure.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 続 from memory, and read 続く and 続ける aloud. Then make a sentence with one of them.