省: the kanji for ministry; omit; reflect
省 is a JLPT N2 kanji that means ministry; omit; reflect. Below are its readings, 7 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
省 is written in 9 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
省 has 4 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 7 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
セイ (sei)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 反省はんせい · hansei | reflection; regret |
| 帰省きせい · kisei | going home (to one's hometown) |
ショウ (shou)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 省略しょうりゃく · shōryaku | omission |
| 省エネしょうえね · shōene | energy saving |
| 外務省がいむしょう · Gaimushō | Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
かえりみる (kaerimiru)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 省みるかえりみる · kaerimiru | to reflect on oneself |
はぶく (habuku)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 省くはぶく · habuku | to omit; to cut out |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- お正月は実家に帰省する。Oshōgatsu wa jikka ni kisei suru.I go back to my parents' home at New Year.
- 失敗を反省して、次に生かしたい。Shippai o hansei shite, tsugi ni ikashitai.I want to reflect on my mistake and use the lesson next time.
- 無駄な作業を省いて時間を節約した。Muda na sagyō o habuite jikan o setsuyaku shita.I saved time by cutting out unnecessary work.
- この冷蔵庫は省エネで電気代が安い。Kono reizōko wa shōene de denkidai ga yasui.This refrigerator saves energy, so the electricity bill is low.
- 自分の行動を省みることも大切だ。Jibun no kōdō o kaerimiru koto mo taisetsu da.It is also important to reflect on your own actions.
Questions about 省
How many strokes does 省 have?
省 is written in 9 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 省?
The on readings are sei (セイ), shou (ショウ). The kun readings are kaerimiru (かえりみる), habuku (はぶく).
What JLPT level is 省?
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
Government, rules and society
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 省
- 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.