Recognise 常 in words such as 通常 and 日常. Learn the whole word together with its reading and meaning.

The idea

Read 通常 as つうじょう and 日常 as にちじょう. 常 has 11 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. 常に (つねに) uses a kun reading.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingMeaning
通常つうじょうusual; normal
日常にちじょうeveryday life; daily
異常いじょうabnormality; abnormal
常につねにalways; at all times

Examples

  • この店みせは通常つうじょう、九時くじに開あきます。This shop usually opens at nine.
  • 電車でんしゃは通常つうじょうどおり動うごいています。The trains are running as usual.
  • 日常にちじょうの小ちいさな変化へんかに気きづきました。I noticed a small change in everyday life.
  • この映画えいがは家族かぞくの日常にちじょうを描えがいています。This film depicts a family’s everyday life.
  • 機械きかいに異常いじょうがあります。There is something wrong with the machine.
  • 点検てんけんでは異常いじょうはありませんでした。The inspection found no problems.
  • 安全あんぜんを常つねに考かんがえます。I always think about safety.

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

Watch out

通常 means usual, while 異常 indicates something abnormal; 非常 can describe an emergency or intensify an adjective. Compare the shapes of 常 and 賞; they are different characters.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 通常 in hiragana.

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    つうじょう

    通常 is read つうじょう; it means usual; normal.

  2. Write the reading of 日常 in hiragana.

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    にちじょう

    日常 is read にちじょう; it means everyday life; daily.

  3. Fill in the missing kanji: 異＿（いじょう）.

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    常

    常 completes 異常, read いじょう; it means abnormality; abnormal.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 常 from memory, and read 通常 and 日常 aloud. Then use one in a sentence.