Japanese kanji 研: 研ぎます and 研修

The idea

研 has 9 strokes; follow the linked KanjiVG diagram. Learn 研ぎます (とぎます) and 研修 (けんしゅう) as whole words: a character’s reading depends on the word.

Examples

• 母ははは包丁ほうちょうを研とぎます。My mother sharpens a kitchen knife.
• 会社かいしゃで研修けんしゅうを受うけます。I attend training at work.
• 彼かれは日本語にほんごを研究けんきゅうしています。He researches the Japanese language.
• 父ちちは古ふるいはさみを研とぎました。My father sharpened the old scissors.
• 研修けんしゅうは二日間ふつかかんです。The training lasts two days.
• 研究室けんきゅうしつで石いしを調しらべます。I examine a stone in the laboratory.

Watch out

Here, 研ぎます means “sharpens an edge”; 研修 means “training or professional development”. Compare 研ぎます (とぎます) and 研修 (けんしゅう) in context: “My mother sharpens a kitchen knife.” and “I attend training at work.” The same character does not make the words interchangeable. Compare the shapes of 研 and 形 as well.

Try it yourself

1. Write the reading of 研ぎます in hiragana.

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   とぎます

   研ぎます is read とぎます. In context: My mother sharpens a kitchen knife.

2. Write the reading of 研修 in hiragana.

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   けんしゅう

   研修 is read けんしゅう. In context: I attend training at work.

3. Write the missing kanji: ＿ぎます [研 / 形] (とぎます).

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   研

   研 completes 研ぎます, read とぎます. In context: My mother sharpens a kitchen knife.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 研 from memory, then read 研ぎます and 研修 aloud. Check the readings and contexts.