Japanese kanji 籍: enrollment and registers

The idea

籍 has 20 strokes and the common reading せき in 在籍（ざいせき）, 入籍（にゅうせき）, 国籍（こくせき） and 戸籍（こせき）. Follow the linked stroke diagram; the table connects readings with meanings.

Examples

• 私わたしは大学だいがくに在籍ざいせきしています。I am enrolled at a university.
• 彼女かのじょは去年きょねんその学校がっこうに入学にゅうがくしました。She enrolled at the school last year.
• 彼かれは研究所けんきゅうじょに在籍ざいせきしています。He belongs to a research institute.
• 書類しょるいに国籍こくせきを書かきました。I wrote my nationality on the form.
• 戸籍こせきの写うつしを請求せいきゅうしました。I requested a copy of the family register.
• 彼女かのじょは二重にじゅう国籍こくせきです。She has dual nationality.

Watch out

入籍 can mean entering a family register, often through marriage; it is not the usual word for entering a school. Use 入学 for school enrollment.

Try it yourself

1. Write the reading of 在籍 in hiragana.

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   ざいせき

   在籍 is ざいせき: it describes being enrolled or affiliated with an institution.

2. Write the reading of 国籍 in hiragana.

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   こくせき

   国籍 is こくせき: it means nationality, not a family register.

3. Choose the missing kanji: 戸＿（こせき）［籍／借］.

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   籍

   籍 completes 戸籍（こせき）, the family register; 借 means borrowing.

Use it today

Write 籍 using the stroke diagram, then cover the readings and recall 在籍 and 国籍. Make a sentence with one word.