薄: the kanji for thin; light; weak
薄 is a JLPT N2 kanji that means thin; light; weak. Below are its readings, 4 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
薄 is written in 16 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
薄 has 6 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 4 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
ハク (haku)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 薄情はくじょう · hakujō | heartless; cold |
| 軽薄けいはく · keihaku | frivolous; shallow |
うすい (usui)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 薄いうすい · usui | thin; light; weak |
うすめる (usumeru)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 薄めるうすめる · usumeru | to dilute |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- このハムは薄く切ってある。Kono hamu wa usuku kitte aru.This ham is thinly sliced.
- 今日は薄いコートで大丈夫だ。Kyō wa usui kōto de daijōbu da.A light coat is fine today.
- ジュースを水で薄めた。Jūsu o mizu de usumeta.I diluted the juice with water.
- 薄い味の料理が好きだ。Usui aji no ryōri ga suki da.I like lightly seasoned food.
- 困っている人を見捨てるのは薄情だ。Komatte iru hito o misuteru no wa hakujō da.It is heartless to abandon someone in trouble.
Questions about 薄
How many strokes does 薄 have?
薄 is written in 16 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 薄?
The on readings are haku (ハク). The kun readings are usui (うすい), usumeru (うすめる), usumaru (うすまる), usuragu (うすらぐ), usureru (うすれる).
What JLPT level is 薄?
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
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 薄
- 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.