敬: the kanji for respect
敬 is a JLPT N2 kanji that means respect. Below are its readings, 5 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
敬 is written in 12 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
敬 has 2 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 5 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
ケイ (kei)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 尊敬そんけい · sonkei | respect |
| 敬語けいご · keigo | honorific language |
| 敬意けいい · keii | respect; regard |
| 敬老の日けいろうのひ · Keirō no Hi | Respect for the Aged Day |
うやまう (uyamau)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 敬ううやまう · uyamau | to respect; to honor |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 私は父を尊敬している。Watashi wa chichi o sonkei shite iru.I respect my father.
- お客様には敬語で話してください。Okyakusama ni wa keigo de hanashite kudasai.Please speak to customers in honorific language.
- 相手に敬意を払うことが大切だ。Aite ni keii o harau koto ga taisetsu da.It is important to show respect to the other person.
- お年寄りを敬う気持ちを忘れてはいけない。Otoshiyori o uyamau kimochi o wasurete wa ikenai.We must not forget to respect the elderly.
- 敬老の日に祖母に花を贈った。Keirō no Hi ni sobo ni hana o okutta.I gave my grandmother flowers on Respect for the Aged Day.
Questions about 敬
How many strokes does 敬 have?
敬 is written in 12 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 敬?
The on readings are kei (ケイ). The kun readings are uyamau (うやまう).
What JLPT level is 敬?
N2. 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 N2 is designed to match the former Level 2.
More JLPT N2 kanji
People and relationships
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 敬
- 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.