Explore 巻 in actions, objects and numbered book volumes. Learn each reading with its word.

The idea

巻 has 9 strokes; follow the linked diagram. 巻く is まく, 巻物 is まきもの, and 二巻 is にかん. The reading changes with the word.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample in context
巻くまくI roll the scarf around my neck.
巻物まきものWe saw an old scroll at the museum.
二巻にかんI bought the second volume of that manga.
巻き込むまきこむHe got caught up in the trouble.

Examples

  • 首くびにマフラーを巻まきます。I roll the scarf around my neck.
  • 博物館はくぶつかんで古ふるい巻物まきものを見みました。We saw an old scroll at the museum.
  • あのマンガの二巻にかんを買かいました。I bought the second volume of that manga.
  • ひもを箱はこに巻まいてください。Please wind the cord around the box.
  • 彼かれはトラブルに巻まき込こまれました。He got caught up in the trouble.
  • この百科事典ひゃっかじてんは全ぜん十巻じゅっかんです。This encyclopedia has ten volumes.

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

Watch out

巻く means to wind; 巻物 is a scroll, while 巻 counts volumes. 巻き込む can also mean involving someone in trouble. Do not confuse 巻 with 券, a ticket.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 巻く in hiragana.

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    まく

    巻く is まく: it describes winding, as with a scarf.

  2. Write the reading of 巻物 in hiragana.

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    まきもの

    巻物 is まきもの: a rolled object such as the old scroll in the museum.

  3. Choose the kanji for volume: 二＿（にかん）［巻／券］.

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    巻

    巻 completes 二巻（にかん）, the second volume; 券 means a ticket.

Use it today

Write 巻 using the diagram, then cover the table and read 巻く and 巻物. Make a sentence about a volume.