Discover 資 through useful words about resources and the means available for a task.

The idea

資 has 13 strokes; use the linked diagram for their order. Its common reading is し in 資料（しりょう）, 資源（しげん）, 資金（しきん） and 資格（しかく）. Learn each complete word in context.

Patterns to compare
WordReadingExample in context
資料しりょうI read the materials before the meeting.
資源しげんWater is a precious resource.
資金しきんWe are gathering funds for the project.
資格しかくI obtained a qualification to teach Japanese.

Examples

  • 会議かいぎの前まえに資料しりょうを読よみます。I read the materials before the meeting.
  • 天然てんねん資源しげんを大切たいせつに使つかわなければなりません。We must use natural resources carefully.
  • プロジェクトの資金しきんを集あつめています。We are gathering funds for the project.
  • 日本語にほんごを教おしえる資格しかくを取とりました。I obtained a qualification to teach Japanese.
  • 先生せんせいが資料しりょうを配くばりました。The teacher distributed the materials.
  • 水みずは貴重きちょうな資源しげんです。Water is a precious resource.

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

Watch out

資料 means documents or material; 資源 means resources such as water. 資金 is money for a purpose, while 資格 is a qualification. The shared character does not make these words interchangeable.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 資料 in hiragana.

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    しりょう

    資料 is しりょう: the meeting materials are read beforehand. Remember the long vowel in りょう.

  2. Write the reading of 資源 in hiragana.

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    しげん

    資源 is しげん: water is a precious resource. The second character is read げん here.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: ＿金（しきん）［資／貝］.

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    資

    資 completes 資金（しきん）, funds gathered for a project. 貝 is only the lower part of 資.

Use it today

Write 資 following the diagram. Cover the table, read 資料 and 資源 aloud, then make a sentence with one word.