Meet 占 in predictions and in words about taking up space. Learn each reading with its whole word.

The idea

占 has five strokes; follow the linked diagram. 占う is うらなう, 占める is しめる, and 独占 is どくせん.

Examples

  • 今日きょうの運勢うんせいを占うらないます。I tell today’s fortune.
  • 友達ともだちと占うらないの話はなしをしました。I talked about fortune-telling with a friend.
  • 彼女かのじょは占うらない師しに相談そうだんしました。She consulted a fortune teller.
  • 新聞しんぶんの星占ほしうらないを読よみました。I read the horoscope in the newspaper.
  • 荷物にもつが部屋へやの半分はんぶんを占しめています。The luggage takes up half the room.
  • 一社いっしゃが市場しじょうを独占どくせんしています。One company monopolizes the market.

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

Watch out

Do not read every 占 as うらな: 占める means to occupy, while 占う means to predict fortune.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 占う in hiragana.

    Show answer or example answer

    うらなう

    占う is うらなう: it means to tell a fortune.

  2. Write the reading of 占める in hiragana.

    Show answer or example answer

    しめる

    占める is しめる: luggage can occupy half a room.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: 独＿（どくせん）［占／店］.

    Show answer or example answer

    占

    占 completes 独占（どくせん）, a monopoly.

Use it today

Write 占 following the diagram, then cover the examples and make a sentence with 占める.