Explore 消 in everyday actions and words for firefighting. Learn each reading with its complete word.

The idea

消 has 10 strokes. Follow the linked stroke-order diagram. 消す（けす） means to turn something off or erase it; 消える（きえる） means to go out or disappear. 消防（しょうぼう） refers to firefighting.

Patterns to compare
WordReadingExample in context
消すけすI turn off the light before going to bed.
消えるきえるThe light went out suddenly.
消防しょうぼうMy brother works in firefighting.
消火器しょうかきI checked the location of the fire extinguisher.

Examples

  • 寝ねる前まえに電気でんきを消けします。I turn off the light before going to bed.
  • 電気でんきが急きゅうに消きえました。The light went out suddenly.
  • 黒板こくばんの字じを消けしてください。Please erase the writing on the board.
  • 火ひが雨あめで消きえました。The fire went out in the rain.
  • 兄あには消防しょうぼうの仕事しごとをしています。My brother works in firefighting.
  • 消火器しょうかきの場所ばしょを確認かくにんしました。I checked the location of the fire extinguisher.

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

Watch out

消す takes an object with を; 消える describes something going out and uses が for its subject. Do not exchange them without changing the sentence.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 消す in hiragana.

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    けす

    消す is けす: someone turns something off or erases it.

  2. Write the reading of 消える in hiragana.

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    きえる

    消える is きえる: the light goes out, rather than someone turning it off.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: ＿防（しょうぼう）［消／肖］.

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    消

    消 completes 消防（しょうぼう）, the word for firefighting.

Use it today

Write 消 using the diagram. Cover the table, read 消す and 消える, and make a sentence with each.