Japanese kanji 論: theory, debate and conclusions

The idea

論 has 15 strokes; follow the linked KanjiVG diagram. Compare 理論（りろん） and 議論（ぎろん）: learn each reading with the whole word.

Examples

• この理論りろんを授業じゅぎょうで学まなびました。I learned this theory in class.
• その理論りろんを実際じっさいに試ためしてみましょう。Let’s try that theory out in practice.
• 学生がくせいたちは環境かんきょうについて議論ぎろんしました。The students discussed the environment.
• 会議かいぎで新あたらしい案あんを議論ぎろんします。We’ll discuss the new proposal at the meeting.
• 話はなし合あいの結論けつろんは来週らいしゅう出だします。We’ll reach a conclusion from the discussion next week.
• 結論けつろんを先さきに言いってください。Please tell me the conclusion first.

Watch out

理論 is a theory, 議論 a discussion or debate, and 結論 a conclusion. 論 has 言 on the left; 輪 has 車.

Try it yourself

1. Write the reading of 理論 in hiragana.

   Show answer or example answer

   りろん

   理論 is read りろん. In context: I learned this theory in class.

2. Write the reading of 議論 in hiragana.

   Show answer or example answer

   ぎろん

   議論 is read ぎろん. In context: The students discussed the environment.

3. Fill in the missing kanji: 結＿（けつろん）.

   Show answer or example answer

   論

   論 completes 結論, read けつろん. In context: We’ll reach a conclusion from the discussion next week.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 論 from memory, and read 理論 and 議論 aloud. Then make a sentence with one of them.