往: the kanji for go; past
往 is a JLPT N1 kanji that means go; past. Below are its readings, 3 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
往 is written in 8 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
往 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).
オウ (ou)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 往復おうふく · ōfuku | round trip |
| 往来おうらい · ōrai | traffic; coming and going |
| 既往症きおうしょう · kiōshō | past illness … |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 東京まで往復の切符を買った。Tōkyō made ōfuku no kippu o katta.I bought a round-trip ticket to Tokyo.
- 駅前は人の往来が多い。Ekimae wa hito no ōrai ga ōi.There is a lot of foot traffic in front of the station.
- 問診票に既往症を書いた。Monshinhyō ni kiōshō o kaita.I wrote my past illnesses on the medical form.
- …道に迷って右往左往した。Michi ni mayotte uōsaō shita.I got lost and wandered around in confusion.
- 往復で二時間かかる。Ōfuku de nijikan kakaru.It takes two hours there and back.
Questions about 往
How many strokes does 往 have?
往 is written in 8 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 往?
The on readings are ou (オウ). 往 has no kun reading in the Jōyō Kanji Table.
What JLPT level is 往?
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
Travel and transport
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 往
- 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.