針: the kanji for needle; hand (of a clock)
針 is a JLPT N2 kanji that means needle; hand (of a clock). Below are its readings, 5 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
針 is written in 10 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
針 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).
シン (shin)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 方針ほうしん · hōshin | policy; course of action |
| 秒針びょうしん · byōshin | second hand |
| 針葉樹しんようじゅ · shin'yōju | conifer |
はり (hari)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 針はり · hari | needle; hand (of a clock) |
| 針金はりがね · harigane | wire |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 会社の方針が変わった。Kaisha no hōshin ga kawatta.The company's policy has changed.
- 針に糸を通すのが難しい。Hari ni ito o tōsu no ga muzukashii.It is hard to thread the needle.
- 時計の秒針の音が気になる。Tokei no byōshin no oto ga ki ni naru.The ticking of the clock's second hand bothers me.
- この山には針葉樹が多い。Kono yama ni wa shin'yōju ga ōi.There are many conifers on this mountain.
- 針金で箱を固定した。Harigane de hako o kotei shita.I fastened the box with wire.
Questions about 針
How many strokes does 針 have?
針 is written in 10 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 針?
The on readings are shin (シン). The kun readings are hari (はり).
What JLPT level is 針?
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
Home, clothing and daily life
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 針
- 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.