苛: the kanji for torment; scold
苛 is a Jōyō kanji that means torment; scold. Below are its readings, 2 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
苛 is written in 8 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
苛 has 1 reading 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).
カ (ka)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 苛酷かこく · kakoku | harsh; severe |
| 苛烈かれつ · karetsu | fierce; intense |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 砂漠は苛酷な環境です。Sabaku wa kakoku na kankyō desu.The desert is a harsh environment.
- 苛酷な労働は法律で禁じられています。Kakoku na rōdō wa hōritsu de kinjirarete imasu.Harsh working conditions are prohibited by law.
- 市場の競争は苛烈だ。Shijō no kyōsō wa karetsu da.Competition in the market is fierce.
- 選手たちは苛酷な練習を続けた。Senshutachi wa kakoku na renshū o tsuzuketa.The athletes kept up their tough training.
- 苛烈な戦いの記録が残っている。Karetsu na tatakai no kiroku ga nokotte iru.Records of the fierce battle remain.
Questions about 苛
How many strokes does 苛 have?
苛 is written in 8 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 苛?
The on readings are ka (カ). 苛 has no kun reading in the Jōyō Kanji Table.
What JLPT level is 苛?
苛 is a Jōyō kanji, but it is not in the N5–N1 kanji lists on this site. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so other study materials may place 苛 at a JLPT level.
About the JLPT level
苛 is one of the 2,136 kanji in the official Jōyō Kanji Table, but it is not in the N5–N1 kanji lists on this site. The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. Our lists are a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009 and on the levels that several learning sites agree on, so other study materials may place 苛 at a JLPT level. See the list of Jōyō kanji outside our JLPT lists.
More Jōyō kanji
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 苛
- 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.