Readings: いん (Onyomi), (Kunyomi)
Meaning: member, employee, staff
The kanji 員 (いん) is composed of 冂 (kei-gamae, a frame or enclosure, simplified) and 貝 (kai, shell/money). Historically, 貝 represented valuable cowrie shells used as currency and often relates to wealth or people belonging to a group. The 冂 part can signify “round” or “surround.” Together, it symbolizes “a counted member within an organization” or “people belonging to a group or system.”
View JLPT N4 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 員 has 10 strokes. It starts with the “mouth” radical 口, followed by the enclosing element and then the strokes for 貝 (shell). Pay attention to the correct stroke order to ensure proper balance and legibility.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 口 (くち) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 10 |
| JLPT Level | N4 |
| Grade | 4 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- いん (in)
Common Words Using 員
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 社員 | しゃいん | company employee |
| 店員 | てんいん | shop assistant; clerk |
| 駅員 | えきいん | station attendant |
| 会員 | かいいん | member (of a club/association) |
| 定員 | ていいん | seating capacity; fixed number of personnel |
| 全員 | ぜんいん | all members; everyone |
| 職員 | しょくいん | staff member; personnel |
| 隊員 | たいいん | troop member; team member |
| 役員 | やくいん | officer; executive; director |
| 乗務員 | じょうむいん | crew member; attendant (on a vehicle) |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 彼は会社の社員です。
Kana: かれはかいしゃのしゃいんです。
Romaji: Kare wa kaisha no shain desu.
English: He is a company employee.
Japanese: その店には親切な店員がいます。
Kana: そのみせにはしんせつなてんいんがいます。
Romaji: Sono mise ni wa shinsetsu na ten’in ga imasu.
English: There is a kind shop assistant at that store.
Japanese: 駅員に道を聞きました。
Kana: えきいんにみちをききました。
Romaji: Ekiin ni michi o kikimashita.
English: I asked the station attendant for directions.
Japanese: 図書館の会員になりました。
Kana: としょかんのかいいんになりました。
Romaji: Toshokan no kaiin ni narimashita.
English: I became a library member.
Japanese: このバスの定員は５０人です。
Kana: このばすのていいんは５０にんです。
Romaji: Kono basu no teiin wa gojū-nin desu.
English: The capacity of this bus is 50 people.
Japanese: 会議には全員が出席しました。
Kana: かいぎにはぜんいんがしゅっせきしました。
Romaji: Kaigi ni wa zen’in ga shusseki shimashita.
English: All members attended the meeting.
Japanese: 病院の職員は忙しいです。
Kana: びょういんのしょくいんはまちしいです。
Romaji: Byōin no shokuin wa isogashii desu.
English: Hospital staff members are busy.
Japanese: その救助隊の隊員は勇敢でした。
Kana: そのきゅうじょたいのたいいんはゆうかんでした。
Romaji: Sono kyūjotai no taiin wa yūkan deshita.
English: The members of that rescue team were brave.
Japanese: 彼は会社の役員に昇進しました。
Kana: かれはかいしゃのやくいんにしょうしんしました。
Romaji: Kare wa kaisha no yakuin ni shōshin shimashita.
English: He was promoted to an executive of the company.
Japanese: 飛行機の乗務員は乗客を案内しました。
Kana: ひこうきのじょうむいんはじょうきゃくをあんないしました。
Romaji: Hikōki no jōmuin wa jōkyaku o annai shimashita.
English: The flight attendants guided the passengers.
Related Grammar & kanji list
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