Explore 観 in words for careful observation, viewing and scenery. Learn each reading with its complete word.

The idea

観 has 18 strokes; follow the linked diagram. Its common compound reading is かん: 観察（かんさつ）, 観光（かんこう）, 観客（かんきゃく） and 景観（けいかん）. 観る（みる） can mean watching a film.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingMeaning
観察かんさつobservation
観光かんこうsightseeing
観客かんきゃくspectator
景観けいかんlandscape

Examples

  • 公園こうえんで鳥とりを観察かんさつします。We observe the birds in the park.
  • 明日あした、京都きょうとを観光かんこうします。We will go sightseeing in Kyoto tomorrow.
  • コンサートには観客かんきゃくがたくさんいました。There were many spectators at the concert.
  • この町まちは美うつくしい景観けいかんを守まもっています。The town protects its beautiful landscape.
  • 昨日きのう、友達ともだちと映画えいがを観みました。I watched a film with a friend yesterday.
  • 先生せんせいは植物しょくぶつの育そだち方かたを観察かんさつします。The teacher observes how the plants grow.

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

Watch out

観察 is careful observation; 観光 is sightseeing, not scientific observation. 見る is the usual general spelling of みる; 観る highlights viewing a performance or film.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 観察 in hiragana.

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    かんさつ

    観察 is かんさつ: it means observation, as when watching birds carefully.

  2. Write the reading of 観光 in hiragana.

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    かんこう

    観光 is かんこう: it means sightseeing, as on a trip to Kyoto.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: ＿客（かんきゃく）［観／見］.

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    観

    観 completes 観客（かんきゃく）, the people watching a performance.

Use it today

Write 観 using the diagram. Cover the table, read 観察 and 観光, then make a sentence with one.