Explore 照 in words about light, checking and embarrassment. Learn each reading with its complete word.

The idea

照 has 13 strokes; follow the linked stroke-order diagram. 照らす（てらす） means to illuminate, while 照明（しょうめい） means lighting. 照合（しょうごう） means checking against something and 参照（さんしょう） means consulting a reference.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample in context
照らすてらすThe moon lights up the sea.
照明しょうめいPlease turn off the lighting in the room.
照合しょうごうI checked the name against the list.
参照さんしょうPlease refer to this document.

Examples

  • 月つきが海うみを照てらします。The moon lights up the sea.
  • 日ひの光ひかりが庭にわを照てらしています。Sunlight shines on the garden.
  • 部屋へやの照明しょうめいを消けしてください。Please turn off the lighting in the room.
  • 名前なまえを一覧表いちらんひょうと照合しょうごうしました。I checked the name against the list.
  • 彼女かのじょはほめられて照てれました。She was embarrassed when she was praised.
  • この資料しりょうを参照さんしょうしてください。Please refer to this document.

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

Watch out

照れる（てれる） means to feel embarrassed, not to shine a light. The similar-looking 昭 lacks the four dots at the bottom of 照.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 照らす in hiragana.

    Show answer or example answer

    てらす

    照らす is てらす: the moon illuminates the sea. Keep the okurigana らす in the reading.

  2. Write the reading of 照明 in hiragana.

    Show answer or example answer

    しょうめい

    照明 is しょうめい, the lighting in a room. The compound uses しょう.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: 参＿（さんしょう）［照／昭］.

    Show answer or example answer

    照

    照 completes 参照（さんしょう）, meaning to consult a reference.

Use it today

Write 照 using the diagram, cover the table, and read 照らす and 照明. Then make a sentence with one word.