JLPT N1 · 5 strokes
Kanji 司: "director, official, govt office"
The kanji 司 means "director, official, govt office, rule, administer". It is written with 5 strokes and belongs to JLPT level N1, read シ in on'yomi and つかさど.る in kun'yomi.
Stroke order
Strokes are written in the order of the numbers. The order is not decorative: it is what gives the character its balance, and it is also how handwriting search works in Japanese dictionaries.
Readings
On'yomi (Sino-Japanese reading)
シ
Kun'yomi (native Japanese reading)
つかさど.る
In a kun'yomi reading, the dot separates the kanji from its okurigana: かた.る is read かたる and written 語る. A hyphen marks a bound position, like -び in 日.
At a glance
| Meaning | director, official, govt office, rule, administer |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 5 |
| JLPT level | N1 |
| Taught in Japan | grade 4 |
| Frequency rank | 759 of 2,501 |
Common words with 司
The most frequent words using this kanji, most common first, with furigana readings. Click one to open it in the reader.
- 上司(one's) superior; (one's) boss; the higher-ups
- 司るto be in charge of; to manage; to direct; to administer · to rule; to govern; to control
- 司祭priest; minister; pastor
- 司令官commandant; commanding officer; general
- 司会leading a meeting; presiding over a meeting; officiating at a ceremony; chairmanship · chairman; presenter; host; moderator
- 寿司sushi; range of dishes made with vinegared rice combined with fish, vegetables, egg, etc.
- 司令command; commander; commandant
- 司令部headquarters
- 司書librarian
- 司教bishop (Catholic)
- 司会者chairman; moderator; toastmaster; master of ceremonies
- 司法administration of justice; judicature
Keep going
Read real Japanese, not lists
A kanji list does not teach you to read. KanjiYome puts furigana and a dictionary on any Japanese text, offline, and turns the words you meet into review cards.