The character 教 relates to teach; tell. Learn its readings together with whole words and see them in context.

The idea

Kanji may have native Japanese readings (kun) and readings borrowed through Chinese (on); learn a reading with its word. Learn complete words: 教える (おしえる) means to teach; to tell, and 教室 (きょうしつ) means a classroom. 教 has 11 strokes; follow their order in the linked KanjiVG diagram.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingMeaning
教えるおしえるto teach; to tell
教室きょうしつa classroom
教科書きょうかしょa textbook

Examples

  • 先生せんせいは私わたしたちに日本語にほんごを教おしえます。The teacher teaches us Japanese.
  • 友達ともだちに駅えきへの道みちを教おしえました。I told a friend the way to the station.
  • 教室きょうしつに学生がくせいがいます。There are students in the classroom.
  • 教室きょうしつのドアを開あけてください。Please open the classroom door.
  • 新あたらしい教科書きょうかしょを買かいました。I bought a new textbook.
  • 教科書きょうかしょをかばんに入いれました。I put the textbook in my bag.

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

Watch out

With 教える, mark the person receiving the information with に and the thing taught with を; it can also mean telling someone the way. Do not guess a word’s reading or meaning from the character alone: compare 教える and 教室. Also compare the shapes of 教 and 孝; they are different characters. Compare the components: 教：孝＋攵／孝.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 教える in hiragana.

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    おしえる

    教える is read おしえる and means to teach; to tell.

  2. Write the reading of 教室 in hiragana.

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    きょうしつ

    教室 is read きょうしつ and means a classroom.

  3. Fill in the missing kanji: ＿科書（きょうかしょ）.

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    教

    教 completes 教科書, read きょうかしょ; the word means a textbook.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 教 from memory, read 教える and 教室 aloud, and make a sentence with one of them.