The character 問 relates to question; asking. Learn its readings together with whole words and see them in context.

The idea

Kanji may have native Japanese readings (kun) and readings borrowed through Chinese (on); learn a reading with its word. Learn complete words: 質問 (しつもん) means a question, and 問題 (もんだい) means a problem; a question. 問 has 11 strokes; follow their order in the linked KanjiVG diagram.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingMeaning
質問しつもんa question
問題もんだいa problem; a question
問いといa question; an inquiry

Examples

  • 先生せんせいに質問しつもんをします。I ask the teacher a question.
  • 質問しつもんがもう一ひとつあります。I have one more question.
  • この問題もんだいはむずかしいです。This problem is difficult.
  • 問題もんだいをゆっくり読よんでください。Please read the question slowly.
  • その問といに答こたえます。I answer that question.
  • 質問しつもんをノートに書かきました。I wrote the question in my notebook.

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

Watch out

質問 is a question you ask; 問題 can be a problem or a question on a test. Do not guess a word’s reading or meaning from the character alone: compare 質問 and 問題. Also compare the shapes of 問 and 間; they are different characters. Compare the components: 問：口／間：日.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 質問 in hiragana.

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    しつもん

    質問 is read しつもん and means a question.

  2. Write the reading of 問題 in hiragana.

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    もんだい

    問題 is read もんだい and means a problem; a question.

  3. Fill in the missing kanji: ＿い（とい）.

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    問

    問 completes 問い, read とい; the word means a question; an inquiry.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 問 from memory, read 質問 and 問題 aloud, and make a sentence with one of them.