寡: the kanji for few; alone
寡 is a JLPT N1 kanji that means few; alone. Below are its readings, 3 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
寡 is written in 14 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
寡 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).
カ (ka)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 寡黙かもく · kamoku | taciturn |
| 多寡たか · taka | amount; quantity |
| 寡占かせん · kasen | oligopoly |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 父は寡黙な人だ。Chichi wa kamoku na hito da.My father is a man of few words.
- 金額の多寡は問題ではない。Kingaku no taka wa mondai de wa nai.The amount of money doesn't matter.
- …この業界は大手による寡占が進んでいる。Kono gyōkai wa ōte ni yoru kasen ga susunde iru.This industry is increasingly dominated by a few big firms.
- 寡黙だが仕事は確かだ。Kamoku da ga shigoto wa tashika da.He's quiet, but his work is reliable.
- 寡聞にして存じませんでした。Kabun ni shite zonjimasen deshita.I'm afraid I wasn't aware of that.
Questions about 寡
How many strokes does 寡 have?
寡 is written in 14 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 寡?
The on readings are ka (カ). 寡 has no kun reading in the Jōyō Kanji Table.
What JLPT level is 寡?
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
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 寡
- 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.