Meet 式 in words for ceremonies, styles and expressions. Learn each reading with its whole word.

The idea

式 has 6 strokes; follow the linked diagram. Its common reading is しき, as in 形式（けいしき） and 結婚式（けっこんしき）. The table shows how context shapes the meaning.

Patterns to compare
WordReadingContext
卒業式そつぎょうしきThe graduation ceremony starts at ten.
結婚式けっこんしきWe held the wedding at a small hotel.
形式けいしきPlease write your name in this format.
和式わしきThis hotel has Japanese-style rooms.
数式すうしきThe teacher wrote a mathematical expression on the board.

Examples

  • 卒業式そつぎょうしきは十時じゅうじに始はじまります。The graduation ceremony starts at ten.
  • 結婚式けっこんしきを小ちいさなホテルで行おこないました。We held the wedding at a small hotel.
  • この形式けいしきで名前なまえを書かいてください。Please write your name in this format.
  • このホテルには和式わしきの部屋へやがあります。This hotel has Japanese-style rooms.
  • 先生せんせいは黒板こくばんに数式すうしきを書かきました。The teacher wrote a mathematical expression on the board.
  • 開会式かいかいしきは正午しょうごに終おわりました。The opening ceremony finished at noon.

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

Watch out

式 can mean a ceremony, a form or a mathematical expression; “style” alone will not fit every sentence. Compare 式 with 試: 試 has the speech component 言.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 形式 in hiragana.

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    けいしき

    形式 is けいしき: it means a form or format, as in the instruction to write a name.

  2. Write the reading of 結婚式 in hiragana.

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    けっこんしき

    結婚式 is けっこんしき: the small っ marks a pause before こ; the word means wedding ceremony.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: 数＿（すうしき）［式／試］.

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    式

    式 completes 数式（すうしき）, a mathematical expression. 試 belongs to words such as 試験, “test”.

Use it today

Write 式 following the diagram, cover the table, and read 形式 and 結婚式. Then make a sentence using one of them.