去: the kanji for leave and past
去 is a JLPT N4 kanji that means leave, past. Below are its readings, 6 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
去 is written in 5 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
去 has 3 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 6 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
キョ (kyo)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 去年きょねん · kyonen | last year |
| 除去じょきょ · jokyo | removal |
| 退去たいきょ · taikyo | leaving; moving out |
コ (ko)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 過去かこ · kako | the past |
さる (saru)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 去るさる · saru | to leave |
| 立ち去るたちさる · tachisaru | to walk away |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 去年、日本に来ました。Kyonen, Nihon ni kimashita.I came to Japan last year.
- 過去のデータを分析しました。Kako no dēta o bunseki shimashita.We analyzed past data.
- 去年の売上と比べてみましょう。Kyonen no uriage to kurabete mimashō.Let's compare with last year's sales.
- 部屋を退去する日を大家さんに伝えました。Heya o taikyo suru hi o ōya-san ni tsutaemashita.I told the landlord the date I'm moving out.
- 彼は三月に会社を去りました。Kare wa sangatsu ni kaisha o sarimashita.He left the company in March.
- 過去三年の資料をまとめました。Kako sannen no shiryō o matomemashita.I compiled the documents from the past three years.
Questions about 去
How many strokes does 去 have?
去 is written in 5 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 去?
The on readings are kyo (キョ), ko (コ). The kun readings are saru (さる).
What is the difference between 去年 and 昨年?
Both mean last year. 去年 (kyonen) is everyday speech. 昨年 (sakunen) is more formal and is common in business letters and speeches.
What JLPT level is 去?
N4. 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 N4 is designed to match the former Level 3.
More JLPT N4 kanji
Movement and actions
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 去
- 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.