堂: the kanji for hall and temple
堂 is a JLPT N4 kanji that means hall, temple. Below are its readings, 7 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
堂 is written in 11 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
堂 has 1 reading in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 7 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
ドウ (dou)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 食堂しょくどう · shokudō | cafeteria; dining hall |
| 講堂こうどう · kōdō | auditorium |
| 本堂ほんどう · hondō | main hall (of a temple) |
| 国会議事堂こっかいぎじどう · kokkai gijidō | National Diet Building |
| 堂々どうどう · dōdō | dignified; confidently |
| 殿堂でんどう · dendō | hall of fame |
| 社員食堂しゃいんしょくどう · shain shokudō | company cafeteria |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 昼ご飯は社員食堂で食べます。Hirugohan wa shain shokudō de tabemasu.I eat lunch in the company cafeteria.
- 入社式は講堂で行います。Nyūshashiki wa kōdō de okonaimasu.The welcome ceremony for new employees will be held in the auditorium.
- 堂々と自分の意見を言いました。Dōdō to jibun no iken o iimashita.I stated my opinion confidently.
- お寺の本堂でお参りしました。O-tera no hondō de o-mairi shimashita.I prayed at the main hall of the temple.
- 国会議事堂を見学しました。Kokkai gijidō o kengaku shimashita.I toured the National Diet Building.
- 駅前の食堂は安くておいしいです。Ekimae no shokudō wa yasukute oishii desu.The diner in front of the station is cheap and good.
Questions about 堂
How many strokes does 堂 have?
堂 is written in 11 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 堂?
The on readings are dou (ドウ). 堂 has no kun reading in the Jōyō Kanji Table.
What is a 食堂 in Japan?
食堂 (shokudō) can mean a cafeteria at a company or school, or a simple, inexpensive restaurant serving set meals, 定食 (teishoku).
What JLPT level is 堂?
N4. 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 N4 is designed to match the former Level 3.
More JLPT N4 kanji
Places and buildings
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 堂
- 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.