Recognize 長 in everyday Japanese. Start with its meaning, long, then learn to read it in whole words such as 長い and 社長.

The idea

Kanji may have Japanese-origin and Chinese-origin readings; learn each with its word. Compare 長い（ながい） and 社長（しゃちょう）. 長 has 8 strokes; follow their order in the linked KanjiVG diagram.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingMeaning
長いながいlong
社長しゃちょうcompany president
校長こうちょうschool principal

Examples

  • この道みちは長ながくて広ひろいです。This road is long and wide.
  • 髪かみが長ながい人ひとは母ははです。The person with long hair is my mother.
  • 社長しゃちょうは名前なまえを書かきます。The company president writes their name.
  • 校長こうちょうは学校がっこうにいます。The school principal is at school.
  • 長ながい手紙てがみをゆっくり読よみます。I read the long letter slowly.
  • この川かわは長ながいです。This river is long.

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

Watch out

長い describes length or duration; 長 in 社長 refers to a leader. Compare the shape of 長 with 帳 so you do not confuse them.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 長い in hiragana.

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    ながい

    長い is read ながい; it means long. Learn the reading as part of this word.

  2. Write the reading of 社長 in hiragana.

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    しゃちょう

    社長 is read しゃちょう; it means company president. Learn the reading as part of this word.

  3. Fill in the missing kanji: 社＿（しゃちょう）.

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    長

    長 completes 社長, read しゃちょう; the word means company president.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 長 from memory, and read 長い and 社長 aloud. Then check the readings and meanings.