Recognise 余 in words such as 余る and 余裕. Learn the whole word together with its reading and meaning.

The idea

Read 余る as あまる and 余裕 as よゆう. 余 has 7 strokes; use the linked KanjiVG diagram to follow their order. Many kanji have Japanese-origin readings (kun) and readings borrowed through Chinese (on); learn each with its word. N3 is an approximate learning level, not an official JLPT kanji list.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingMeaning
余るあまるto be left over
余裕よゆうroom to spare; leeway
余分よぶんextra; surplus

Examples

  • 料理りょうりが少すこし余あまりました。Some food was left over.
  • 紙かみが二枚にまい余あまっています。There are two sheets of paper left over.
  • 時間じかんに余裕よゆうがあります。We have time to spare.
  • 出発しゅっぱつまで余裕よゆうがありません。There is no time to spare before departure.
  • 余分よぶんなパンを冷凍れいとうします。I will freeze the extra bread.
  • 余分よぶんな紙かみを持もっていますか。Do you have any extra paper?

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

Watch out

余る suggests a surplus beyond what is needed; 残る simply says something remains, not necessarily in excess. Compare the shapes of 余 and 茶; they are different characters.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 余る in hiragana.

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    あまる

    余る is read あまる; it means to be left over.

  2. Write the reading of 余裕 in hiragana.

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    よゆう

    余裕 is read よゆう; it means room to spare; leeway.

  3. Fill in the missing kanji: ＿分（よぶん）.

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    余

    余 completes 余分, read よぶん; it means extra; surplus.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 余 from memory, and read 余る and 余裕 aloud. Then use one in a sentence.