獄: the kanji for prison
獄 is a JLPT N1 kanji that means prison. Below are its readings, 3 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
獄 is written in 14 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
獄 has 1 reading 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).
ゴク (goku)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 地獄じごく · jigoku | hell |
| 監獄かんごく · kangoku | prison |
| 投獄とうごく · tōgoku | imprisonment |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- …満員電車は地獄のようだ。Man'in densha wa jigoku no yō da.A packed train is like hell.
- 彼は無実の罪で投獄された。Kare wa mujitsu no tsumi de tōgoku sareta.He was imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit.
- 古い監獄が博物館になっている。Furui kangoku ga hakubutsukan ni natte iru.An old prison has become a museum.
- 別府の地獄めぐりに行った。Beppu no jigoku meguri ni itta.I went on the "hell tour" of hot springs in Beppu.
- 地獄で仏に会ったような気持ちだ。Jigoku de hotoke ni atta yō na kimochi da.I feel like I met a savior in my darkest hour.
Questions about 獄
How many strokes does 獄 have?
獄 is written in 14 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 獄?
The on readings are goku (ゴク). 獄 has no kun reading in the Jōyō Kanji Table.
What JLPT level is 獄?
N1. 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 N1 is designed to match the former Level 1.
More JLPT N1 kanji
Government, rules and society
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 獄
- 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.