間: the kanji for interval and between
間 is a JLPT N5 kanji that means interval, between. Below are its readings, 17 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
間 is written in 12 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
間 has 4 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 17 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
カン (kan)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 時間じかん · jikan | time; hours |
| 期間きかん · kikan | period |
| 間隔かんかく · kankaku | interval |
| 一週間いっしゅうかん · isshūkan | one week |
| 中間ちゅうかん · chūkan | middle |
| 年間ねんかん · nenkan | yearly; per year |
| 民間みんかん · minkan | private (sector) |
| 瞬間しゅんかん · shunkan | moment |
| 空間くうかん · kūkan | space |
ケン (ken)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 人間にんげん · ningen | human being |
| 世間せけん · seken | society; the public |
あいだ (aida)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 間あいだ · aida | between; during |
ま (ma)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 間違いまちがい · machigai | mistake |
| 間に合うまにあう · maniau | to be in time |
| 仲間なかま · nakama | colleague; companion |
| 手間てま · tema | time and effort |
| 客間きゃくま · kyakuma | guest room |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 間に合いますか。Maniaimasu ka.Will you make it in time?
- 資料に間違いがありました。Shiryō ni machigai ga arimashita.There was a mistake in the materials.
- お手間をとらせてすみません。Otema o torasete sumimasen.Sorry for taking up your time.
- 契約期間は一年です。Keiyaku kikan wa ichinen desu.The contract period is one year.
- 夏休みの間、実家に帰ります。Natsuyasumi no aida, jikka ni kaerimasu.I'll go back to my parents' home during summer vacation.
- 職場の仲間と食事に行きました。Shokuba no nakama to shokuji ni ikimashita.I went out to eat with my coworkers.
Questions about 間
How many strokes does 間 have?
間 is written in 12 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 間?
The on readings are kan (カン), ken (ケン). The kun readings are aida (あいだ), ma (ま).
What does 間に合う mean?
間に合う (maniau) means to be in time, as in 会議に間に合いました (kaigi ni maniaimashita, I made it to the meeting on time).
What JLPT level is 間?
N5. 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 N5 is designed to match the former Level 4.
More JLPT N5 kanji
Days and time
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 間
- 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.