Explore 類 in words for kinds and groups. Learn each reading in a complete word and its context.

The idea

類 has 18 strokes; follow the linked stroke-order diagram. Read 種類（しゅるい）, 分類（ぶんるい）, 書類（しょるい） and 人類（じんるい） as whole words. 類 often conveys a category or group.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample in context
種類しゅるいThere are many kinds of flowers in this garden.
分類ぶんるいPlease sort the books by subject.
書類しょるいI submitted the documents yesterday.
人類じんるいHumanity has long looked at the stars.

Examples

  • この庭にわには花はなの種類しゅるいがたくさんあります。There are many kinds of flowers in this garden.
  • 本ほんを主題しゅだいごとに分類ぶんるいしてください。Please sort the books by subject.
  • 書類しょるいを昨日きのう出だしました。I submitted the documents yesterday.
  • 人類じんるいは昔むかしから星ほしを見みています。Humanity has long looked at the stars.
  • どんな種類しゅるいのお茶ちゃが好すきですか。What kind of tea do you like?
  • この二ふたつの植物しょくぶつは似にています。These two plants are similar.

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

Watch out

種類 means a kind or variety, while 分類 is the act of classifying. 書類 means documents, not a kind of book.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 種類 in hiragana.

    Show answer or example answer

    しゅるい

    種類 is しゅるい: it names a kind or variety, as in kinds of flowers.

  2. Write the reading of 書類 in hiragana.

    Show answer or example answer

    しょるい

    書類 is しょるい: it means documents, as in the papers submitted yesterday.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: 分＿（ぶんるい）［類／頭］.

    Show answer or example answer

    類

    類 completes 分類（ぶんるい）, classification; books can be classified by subject.

Use it today

Write 類 using the diagram. Cover the table, read 種類 and 書類, then make a sentence with one word.