刻: the kanji for carve; time
刻 is a JLPT N3 kanji that means carve; time. Below are its readings, 3 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
刻 is written in 8 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
刻 has 2 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 3 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
コク (koku)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 時刻じこく · jikoku | time (as on a schedule) |
| 深刻しんこく · shinkoku | serious; grave |
きざむ (kizamu)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 刻むきざむ · kizamu | to carve; to chop finely |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 電車の発車時刻を確認した。Densha no hassha jikoku o kakunin shita.I checked the train's departure time.
- これは深刻な問題です。Kore wa shinkoku na mondai desu.This is a serious problem.
- 彼は木に名前を刻んだ。Kare wa ki ni namae o kizanda.He carved his name into the wood.
- 野菜を細かく刻んでください。Yasai o komakaku kizande kudasai.Please chop the vegetables finely.
- 到着時刻が少し遅れています。Tōchaku jikoku ga sukoshi okurete imasu.The arrival time is a little delayed.
Questions about 刻
How many strokes does 刻 have?
刻 is written in 8 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 刻?
The on readings are koku (コク). The kun readings are kizamu (きざむ).
What JLPT level is 刻?
N3. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N3 falls between the former Levels 2 and 3.
More JLPT N3 kanji
Time and sequence
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 刻
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.