Japanese kanji 存: existence, preservation and knowing

The idea

存 has six strokes; follow the linked diagram. 存在 is そんざい, 保存 is ほぞん, and 存じます is ぞんじます. In formal speech 存じます can humbly express knowing or thinking.

Examples

• この島しまには珍めずらしい鳥とりが存在そんざいします。Rare birds exist on this island.
• 大切たいせつなファイルを保存ほぞんします。I save an important file.
• 古ふるい町並まちなみが保存ほぞんされています。The old townscape is preserved.
• その事実じじつは多おおくの人ひとに知しられていますが、私わたしは存ぞんじませんでした。Many people know that fact, but I did not.
• 先生せんせいの名前なまえは存ぞんじています。I know the teacher’s name.
• 明日あしたまでに返事へんじを差さし上あげたいと存ぞんじます。I would like to reply by tomorrow.

Watch out

The keyword “suppose” is only a clue: 存在 means existence, not supposition. 存じています means “know”; ～と存じます can mean “I think” humbly.

Try it yourself

1. Write the reading of 存在 in hiragana.

   Show answer or example answer

   そんざい

   存在 is そんざい: the island example says rare birds exist there.

2. Write the reading of 保存 in hiragana.

   Show answer or example answer

   ほぞん

   保存 is ほぞん: it can mean saving a file or preserving a townscape.

3. Choose the missing kanji: 保＿（ほぞん）［存／在］.

   Show answer or example answer

   存

   存 completes 保存, ほぞん, the word for saving or preserving.

Use it today

Write 存 using the stroke diagram, then cover the readings and make a sentence with 保存.