然: the kanji for so; naturally
然 is a JLPT N3 kanji that means so; naturally. Below are its readings, 2 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
然 is written in 12 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
然 has 2 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 2 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
ゼン (zen)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 自然しぜん · shizen | nature |
| 当然とうぜん · tōzen | of course |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 自然の中で過ごすのが好きです。Shizen no naka de sugosu no ga suki desu.I like spending time in nature.
- 彼が怒るのは当然です。Kare ga okoru no wa tōzen desu.It's natural that he would get angry.
- この地域は自然が豊かです。Kono chiiki wa shizen ga yutaka desu.This area is rich in nature.
- ミスがあれば謝るのは当然だ。Misu ga areba ayamaru no wa tōzen da.Of course you should apologize if there's a mistake.
- 休日は自然の中で過ごしたい。Kyūjitsu wa shizen no naka de sugoshitai.I want to spend my day off in nature.
Questions about 然
How many strokes does 然 have?
然 is written in 12 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 然?
The on readings are zen (ゼン), nen (ネン). 然 has no kun reading in the Jōyō Kanji Table.
What JLPT level is 然?
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
Qualities and conditions
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 然
- 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.