Meet 認 in 認める, 確認 and 承認. Read each complete word in its context.

The idea

認 has 14 strokes; follow the linked KanjiVG diagram. Compare 認める（みとめる） and 確認（かくにん）: learn each reading with the whole word.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample in context
認めるみとめるHe admitted his mistake.
確認かくにんLet’s check the time before departure.
承認しょうにんThe application was approved by the city office.

Examples

  • 彼かれは自分じぶんの間違まちがいを認みとめました。He admitted his mistake.
  • 先生せんせいは努力どりょくを認みとめてくれました。The teacher acknowledged my effort.
  • 出発しゅっぱつの前まえに時間じかんを確認かくにんしましょう。Let’s check the time before departure.
  • 予約よやくの内容ないようを確認かくにんしました。I checked the reservation details.
  • 申請しんせいは市役所しやくしょに承認しょうにんされました。The application was approved by the city office.
  • 変更へんこうには上司じょうしの承認しょうにんが必要ひつようです。The change requires a manager’s approval.

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

Watch out

認める can mean admitting or acknowledging; 確認 means checking, and 承認 means approval. 認 and 許 both have 言 on the left, but their right-hand parts differ.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 認める in hiragana.

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    みとめる

    認める is read みとめる. In context: He admitted his mistake.

  2. Write the reading of 確認 in hiragana.

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    かくにん

    確認 is read かくにん. In context: Let’s check the time before departure.

  3. Fill in the missing kanji: 承＿（しょうにん）.

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    認

    認 completes 承認, read しょうにん. In context: The application was approved by the city office.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 認 from memory, and read 認める and 確認 aloud. Then make a sentence with one of them.