Recognise 他 in complete Japanese words. These examples show other things and other people in context.

The idea

他 has 5 strokes; follow their order in the linked KanjiVG diagram. Compare 他（ほか） with 他人（たにん）: learn readings with whole words. N3 is an editorial estimate, not an official JLPT kanji list.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample in context
他ほかI consider another way.
他人たにんI think about other people’s feelings.
他の人ほかのひとThat is someone else’s book.
他にもほかにもI have other questions too.

Examples

  • 他ほかの方法ほうほうを考かんがえます。I consider another way.
  • 他人たにんの気持きもちを考かんがえます。I think about other people’s feelings.
  • 他ほかの店みせを探さがします。I will look for another shop.
  • 他ほかにも質問しつもんがあります。I have other questions too.
  • それは他ほかの人ひとの本ほんです。That is someone else’s book.
  • 他ほかには何なにが必要ひつようですか。What else is needed?

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

Watch out

他 in 他の is read ほか, while 他人 is たにん, not ほかひと. 他の人 can be someone you know; 他人 can refer to a person unconnected to you. Compare 他 with 仕: a shared component does not make them interchangeable.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 他 in hiragana.

    Show answer or example answer

    ほか

    他 is read ほか. In context: I consider another way.

  2. Write the reading of 他人 in hiragana.

    Show answer or example answer

    たにん

    他人 is read たにん. In context: I think about other people’s feelings.

  3. Write this lesson’s kanji in the blank: ＿（ほか）.

    Show answer or example answer

    他

    他 completes 他, read ほか. In context: I consider another way.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 他 from memory, and read 他 and 他人 aloud. Then check the examples and make a sentence of your own.