掃: the kanji for sweep
掃 is a JLPT N2 kanji that means sweep. Below are its readings, 4 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
掃 is written in 11 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
掃 has 2 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).
ソウ (sou)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 掃除そうじ · sōji | cleaning |
| 掃除機そうじき · sōjiki | vacuum cleaner |
| 清掃せいそう · seisō | cleaning |
はく (haku)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 掃くはく · haku | to sweep |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 週末に部屋の掃除をした。Shūmatsu ni heya no sōji o shita.I cleaned my room on the weekend.
- 毎朝、店の前をほうきで掃く。Maiasa, mise no mae o hōki de haku.Every morning I sweep in front of the shop with a broom.
- 掃除機をかけるのは夜は控えてください。Sōjiki o kakeru no wa yoru wa hikaete kudasai.Please do not use the vacuum cleaner at night.
- ビルの清掃の仕事をしている。Biru no seisō no shigoto o shite iru.I work cleaning buildings.
- 落ち葉を掃いて集めた。Ochiba o haite atsumeta.I swept up the fallen leaves.
Questions about 掃
How many strokes does 掃 have?
掃 is written in 11 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 掃?
The on readings are sou (ソウ). The kun readings are haku (はく).
What JLPT level is 掃?
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 掃
- 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.