Explore 了 in words used to announce an ending, a completed process or agreement.

The idea

了 has two strokes; follow the linked diagram. Its reading りょう appears in 終了（しゅうりょう）, 完了（かんりょう） and 了承（りょうしょう）. Learn each compound as a whole.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample in context
終了しゅうりょうThe work has ended.
完了かんりょうThe application is complete.
了承りょうしょうI listened to the explanation and agreed.

Examples

  • 作業さぎょうが終了しゅうりょうしました。The work has ended.
  • 申もうし込こみが完了かんりょうしました。The application is complete.
  • 説明せつめいを聞きいて了承りょうしょうしました。I listened to the explanation and agreed.
  • 予定よていを変更へんこうしますので、ご了承りょうしょうください。Please understand that the schedule will change.
  • 会議かいぎは午後ごご５時じに終了しゅうりょうします。The meeting ends at 5 p.m.
  • 支払しはらいの完了かんりょうを確認かくにんしました。I confirmed that payment was complete.

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

Watch out

終了 marks an ending, while 完了 emphasizes that a process is fully completed. 了承 means understanding and accepting something, not finishing it.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 終了 in hiragana.

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    しゅうりょう

    終了 is しゅうりょう: the meeting or work has ended. The long りょう is part of the whole compound.

  2. Write the reading of 完了 in hiragana.

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    かんりょう

    完了 is かんりょう: a process, such as an application, is complete. Remember the long vowel in りょう.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: ＿承（りょうしょう）［了／子］.

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    了

    了 completes 了承（りょうしょう）, meaning acceptance or understanding. 子 has an extra horizontal stroke.

Use it today

Write 了 using the stroke diagram. Cover the table, read the three compounds and make a sentence about a completed task.