Explore 副 through roles and things secondary to a main one. Learn each reading with the whole word.

The idea

副 has 11 strokes and the on-reading ふく in these compounds. 副社長 is a vice president, 副作用 a side effect, and 副本 a copy. Follow the linked stroke diagram.

Patterns to compare
WordReadingExample
副社長ふくしゃちょうThe vice president will attend the meeting.
副作用ふくさようI asked the doctor about side effects.
副本ふくほんPlease keep a copy of the application form.
副題ふくだいThe subtitle explains the content of the book.

Examples

  • 副社長ふくしゃちょうが会議かいぎに出席しゅっせきします。The vice president will attend the meeting.
  • 彼女かのじょは副店長ふくてんちょうとして働はたらいています。She works as an assistant store manager.
  • 副作用ふくさようについて医師いしに聞ききました。I asked the doctor about side effects.
  • この薬くすりには副作用ふくさようがあるかもしれません。This medicine may have side effects.
  • 申込書もうしこみしょの副本ふくほんを保管ほかんしてください。Please keep a copy of the application form.
  • 副題ふくだいは本ほんの内容ないようを説明せつめいしています。The subtitle explains the content of the book.

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

Watch out

副 does not always mean a person’s deputy: in 副作用 it marks an additional effect. Do not confuse it with the similarly shaped 福, meaning good fortune.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 副社長 in hiragana.

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    ふくしゃちょう

    副社長 is ふくしゃちょう: 副 marks the deputy role in the company.

  2. Write the reading of 副作用 in hiragana.

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    ふくさよう

    副作用 is ふくさよう: it refers to an additional effect, often of a medicine.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: ＿本（ふくほん）［副／福］.

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    副

    副 completes 副本（ふくほん）, a copy of a document.

Use it today

Write 副 using the stroke diagram, then cover the table and read 副社長 and 副作用. Make a sentence with one.