礎: the kanji for cornerstone
礎 is a JLPT N1 kanji that means cornerstone. Below are its readings, 4 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
礎 is written in 18 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
礎 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 (so)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 基礎きそ · kiso | basics; foundation |
| 礎石そせき · soseki | foundation stone |
| 定礎ていそ · teiso | laying of the cornerstone |
いしずえ (ishizue)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 礎いしずえ · ishizue | foundation; cornerstone |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- …家の基礎工事が始まった。Ie no kiso kōji ga hajimatta.The foundation work on the house has begun.
- 寺の跡に礎石が残っている。Tera no ato ni soseki ga nokotte iru.Foundation stones remain at the temple ruins.
- 彼は会社の礎を築いた人だ。Kare wa kaisha no ishizue o kizuita hito da.He is the one who laid the foundation of the company.
- ビルの入り口に定礎の石がある。Biru no iriguchi ni teiso no ishi ga aru.There is a cornerstone at the building's entrance.
- 基礎を固めてから応用に進もう。Kiso o katamete kara ōyō ni susumō.Let's solidify the basics before moving on to applications.
Questions about 礎
How many strokes does 礎 have?
礎 is written in 18 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 礎?
The on readings are so (ソ). The kun readings are ishizue (いしずえ).
What JLPT level is 礎?
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
Science, materials and colors
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 礎
- 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.