Recognize 終 in words such as 終わる and 最終; connect each whole word with its reading and meaning.

The idea

Common Chinese-derived readings include シュウ. Japanese-origin readings include おわる・おえる. Compare 終わる (おわる) with 最終 (さいしゅう). 終 has 11 strokes; follow their order in the linked KanjiVG diagram.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingMeaning
終わるおわるto end (intransitive)
最終さいしゅうlast; final
終えるおえるto finish (transitive)
終了しゅうりょうending; closing

Examples

  • 仕事しごとは五時ごじに終おわります。Work finishes at five.
  • 買かい物ものはもう終おわりました。I have already finished shopping.
  • コピーが終おわりました。The copying is finished.
  • 私わたしは宿題しゅくだいを終おえました。I finished my homework.
  • 最終さいしゅう電車でんしゃは十時じゅうじに出でます。The last train leaves at ten.
  • 受付うけつけは五時ごじに終了しゅうりょうします。Registration closes at five.

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

Watch out

終わる describes an event ending; 終える takes the thing finished as its object. Compare 終 with 絡: look for 冬 in 終.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 終わる in hiragana.

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    おわる

    終わる is read おわる; the whole word means to end (intransitive).

  2. Write the reading of 最終 in hiragana.

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    さいしゅう

    最終 is read さいしゅう; the whole word means last; final.

  3. Fill in the missing kanji: ＿える（おえる）.

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    終

    終 completes 終える, read おえる; the whole word means to finish (transitive).

Use it today

Cover the table, write 終 from memory, and read 終わる and 最終 aloud. Make a sentence, then check the readings and meanings.