Meet 位 in rankings, locations and units, and learn each reading with its word.

The idea

位 has seven strokes and is commonly read い in compounds: 一位（いちい） is first place, 位置（いち） is position, 単位（たんい） is a unit or academic credit, and 順位（じゅんい） is ranking. Follow the linked stroke diagram.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample in context
一位いちいShe came first in the race.
位置いちPlease check the position of the station on the map.
単位たんいThe university uses credits as units.
順位じゅんいThe ranking changed after the match.

Examples

  • 彼女かのじょはレースで一位いちいになりました。She came first in the race.
  • 私わたしたちのチームは三位さんいでした。Our team came third.
  • 地図ちずで駅えきの位置いちを確認かくにんしてください。Please check the position of the station on the map.
  • 大学だいがくでは単位たんいを使つかいます。The university uses credits as units.
  • 卒業そつぎょうまでにあと二単位にたんいが必要ひつようです。I need two more credits to graduate.
  • 試合しあいの後あとで順位じゅんいが変かわりました。The ranking changed after the match.

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

Watch out

位置 refers to a location; 順位 refers to an ordered rank. Do not confuse 位 with 立: 位 has the person component 亻 on the left.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 一位 in hiragana.

    Show answer or example answer

    いちい

    一位 is いちい: the number 一 precedes 位 to give first place.

  2. Write the reading of 位置 in hiragana.

    Show answer or example answer

    いち

    位置 is いち: it describes a position, as in the station’s location.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: 順＿（じゅんい）［位／立］.

    Show answer or example answer

    位

    位 completes 順位（じゅんい）, the order of competitors or results.

Use it today

Write 位 in stroke order, cover the table and read the four words. Then describe a result using 一位 or 順位.