Recognize 題 in words such as 話題 and 問題; connect each complete word with its reading and meaning.

The idea

Kanji can have Japanese-origin readings (kun) and readings borrowed through Chinese (on). Compare 話題 (わだい) and 問題 (もんだい). 題 has 18 strokes; follow the linked KanjiVG diagram for their order.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingMeaning
話題わだいtopic of conversation
問題もんだいproblem; question
宿題しゅくだいhomework

Examples

  • 今日きょうの宿題しゅくだいは多おおいです。There is a lot of homework today.
  • 宿題しゅくだいを家いえでします。I do my homework at home.
  • この問題もんだいは難むずかしいです。This question is difficult.
  • 問題もんだいを一緒いっしょに考かんがえましょう。Let’s think about the problem together.
  • その話題わだいは面白おもしろいです。That topic is interesting.
  • 話題わだいを変かえてもいいですか。May I change the subject?

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

Watch out

話題 (わだい) means topic of conversation; 問題 (もんだい) means problem; question. Learn the reading with the whole word. 宿題 is homework, 問題 is a question or problem, and 話題 is a topic of conversation. Compare the indicated parts of 題 and 頭: 是 and 豆.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 話題 in hiragana.

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    わだい

    話題 is read わだい and means topic of conversation. Remember the reading of the whole word.

  2. Write the reading of 問題 in hiragana.

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    もんだい

    問題 is read もんだい and means problem; question. Remember the reading of the whole word.

  3. Fill in the missing kanji: 宿＿（しゅくだい）.

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    題

    題 completes 宿題, read しゅくだい; the completed word means homework.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 題 from memory, and read 話題 and 問題 aloud. Check their readings and meanings.