Japanese kanji 番: turn

The idea

Kanji may have Japanese-origin and Chinese-origin readings; learn each with its word. Compare 順番（じゅんばん） and 番号（ばんごう）. 番 has 12 strokes; follow their order in the linked KanjiVG diagram.

Examples

• 自分じぶんの順番じゅんばんを待まちます。I wait for my turn.
• 次つぎは私わたしの順番じゅんばんです。It is my turn next.
• 電話番号でんわばんごうを教おしえてください。Please tell me your phone number.
• 受付うけつけの係員かかりいんに番号ばんごうを伝つたえました。I gave the number to the person at reception.
• 一番いちばん早はやい電車でんしゃに乗のります。I take the earliest train.
• この中なかでこれが一番いちばん好すきです。Of these, I like this one best.

Watch out

一番 can mean first in order or “most” in a comparison; context decides. Compare the components: 番：釆＋田／異：田＋共。

Try it yourself

1. Write the reading of 順番 in hiragana.

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   じゅんばん

   順番 is read じゅんばん; it means turn; order. Learn the reading as part of this word.

2. Write the reading of 番号 in hiragana.

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   ばんごう

   番号 is read ばんごう; it means number; identification number. Learn the reading as part of this word.

3. Fill in the missing kanji: 一＿（いちばん）.

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   番

   番 completes 一番, read いちばん; the word means first; most.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 番 from memory, and read 順番 and 番号 aloud. Then check the readings and meanings.