Explore 刻 in actions and expressions of time. Connect each reading to a complete word.
The idea
刻 has eight strokes; follow the linked diagram. 刻む（きざむ） means engrave or chop; 時刻（じこく） is a specific time and 遅刻（ちこく） means lateness.
Examples
- 指輪に名前を刻みました。I engraved my name on the ring.
- 玉ねぎを細かく刻みました。I finely chopped the onion.
- 出発の時刻を確認してください。Please check the departure time.
- 会議に遅刻しました。I was late for the meeting.
- 時計が時を刻んでいます。The clock ticks away the time.
- 職人が木に模様を刻みました。The craftsman carved a pattern into the wood.
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Watch out
刻む can mean finely chopping as well as engraving. 時刻 is a point in time, whereas 時間 usually means a duration or time in general.
Try it yourself
Write the reading of 刻む in hiragana.
Show answer or example answer
きざむ
刻む is きざむ; it can describe chopping an onion.
Write the reading of 時刻 in hiragana.
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じこく
時刻 is じこく, the time at which something happens.
Choose the missing kanji: 遅＿（ちこく）［刻／切］.
Show answer or example answer
刻
刻 completes 遅刻（ちこく）, being late.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
Write the reading of 刻む in hiragana.
Write the reading of 時刻 in hiragana.
Choose the missing kanji: 遅＿（ちこく）［刻／切］.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Write 刻 using the diagram, then read 刻む and 時刻 aloud and make a sentence with one.