Meet 次 in 次, 次回 and 目次. Connect each whole word and its reading to a real context.

The idea

次 has 6 strokes; follow their order in the linked KanjiVG diagram. Compare 次（つぎ） with 次回（じかい）. Learn the reading with the whole word, not the character in isolation.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample in context
次つぎThe next train arrives in ten minutes.
次回じかいWe will meet again next week.
目次もくじI look at the book’s table of contents.

Examples

  • 次つぎの電車でんしゃは十分後じゅっぷんごに来きます。The next train arrives in ten minutes.
  • 次回じかいは来週らいしゅう集あつまります。We will meet again next week.
  • 本ほんの目次もくじを見みます。I look at the book’s table of contents.
  • 準備じゅんびができ次第しだい、出発しゅっぱつします。We will leave as soon as preparations are complete.
  • 兄あには次男じなんです。My older brother is the second son.
  • 一次試験いちじしけんは来月らいげつです。The first-stage exam is next month.

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

Watch out

次 alone is つぎ, while 次回 is じかい and 目次 is もくじ. In でき次第, 次第（しだい） means “as soon as”, not simply “next”. Compare 次 with 欠: 次 adds 冫 on the left.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 次 in hiragana.

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    つぎ

    次 is read つぎ. In context: The next train arrives in ten minutes.

  2. Write the reading of 次回 in hiragana.

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    じかい

    次回 is read じかい. In context: We will meet again next week.

  3. Write the missing kanji: 目＿（もくじ）.

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    次

    次 completes 目次, read もくじ. In context: I look at the book’s table of contents.

Use it today

Write 次 three times using the stroke diagram. Cover the table, read 次 and 次回 aloud, then check their readings and meanings.