Readings: ゾク (Onyomi), つづ.く, つづ.ける (Kunyomi)
Meaning: continue, follow, succession, series
The kanji 続 is a phono-semantic compound. It combines 糸 (いと, ito, meaning “thread,” which serves as the radical indicating connection or continuity) and 売 (ばい, bai, meaning “sell,” which functions as the phonetic component, although its meaning is not directly related to “continue” in this context; it provides the ‘zoku’ sound). The combination evokes the idea of threads continuing or connecting, hence “continue” or “succession.”
View JLPT N3 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 続 has 11 strokes. Start with the “thread” radical (糸) on the left, writing its 6 strokes from top to bottom. Then, move to the right component, which resembles 売, completing the remaining 5 strokes. Pay attention to the order and direction of each stroke for correct writing.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 糸 (いと) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 11 |
| JLPT Level | N3 |
| Grade | 5 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ゾク (zoku)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- つづく (tsuzuku)
- つづける (tsuzukeru)
Common Words Using 続
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 連続 | れんぞく | continuation, succession, series |
| 継続 | けいぞく | continuation, persistence |
| 接続 | せつぞく | connection, link |
| 相続 | そうぞく | inheritance, succession |
| 続行 | ぞっこう | continuation (of an action/process) |
| 陸続 | りくぞく | continuously, in an unbroken line |
| 続編 | ぞくへん | sequel |
| 存続 | そんぞく | continuance, durability |
| 連続ドラマ | れんぞくドラマ | serial drama |
| 続々 | ぞくぞく | one after another, in succession |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 続く | つづく | to continue, to last (intransitive) |
| 続ける | つづける | to continue, to resume (transitive) |
| 書き続ける | かきつづける | to keep on writing |
| 話し続ける | はなしつづける | to keep on talking |
| 雨が続く | あめがつつく | the rain continues |
| 仕事を続ける | しごとをつづける | to continue working |
| 読み続ける | よみつづける | to keep on reading |
| 歌い続ける | うたいつづける | to keep on singing |
| 食べ続ける | たべつづける | to keep on eating |
| 走り続ける | はしりつづける | to keep on running |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 雨が一日中続いています。
Kana: あめがいちにちじゅうつづいています。
Romaji: Ame ga ichinichijū tsuzuite imasu.
English: The rain has been continuing all day.
Japanese: 彼は毎日日本語の勉強を続けています。
Kana: かれはまいにちにほんごのべんきょうをつづけています。
Romaji: Kare wa mainichi Nihongo no benkyō o tsuzukete imasu.
English: He continues to study Japanese every day.
Japanese: この道はどこまで続いていますか。
Kana: このみちはどこまでつづいていますか。
Romaji: Kono michi wa doko made tsuzuite imasu ka.
English: How far does this road continue?
Japanese: 彼のスピーチは30分間続いた。
Kana: かれのスピーチはさんじゅっぷんかんつづいた。
Romaji: Kare no supīchi wa sanjuppunkan tsuzuku.
English: His speech continued for 30 minutes.
Japanese: この小説には続編がありますか。
Kana: このしょうせつにはぞくへんがありますか。
Romaji: Kono shōsetsu ni wa zokuhen ga arimasu ka.
English: Does this novel have a sequel?
Japanese: 会議は夜遅くまで続きました。
Kana: かいぎはよるおそくまでつづきました。
Romaji: Kaigi wa yoru osoku made tsuzukimashita.
English: The meeting continued until late at night.
Japanese: インターネット接続に問題があります。
Kana: インターネットせつぞくにもんだいがあります。
Romaji: Intānetto setsuzoku ni mondai ga arimasu.
English: There is a problem with the internet connection.
Japanese: 彼は会社を辞めた後も研究を続けた。
Kana: かれはかいしゃをやめたあともけんきゅうをつづけた。
Romaji: Kare wa kaisha o yameta ato mo kenkyū o tsuzuketa.
English: He continued his research even after leaving the company.
Japanese: その伝統は何世紀も続いています。
Kana: そのでんとうはなんせいきもつづいています。
Romaji: Sono dentō wa nanseiki mo tsuzuite imasu.
English: That tradition has continued for centuries.
Japanese: 彼の冗談に、皆が次々と笑い続けた。
Kana: かれのじょうだんに、みんながぞくぞくとわらいつづけた。
Romaji: Kare no jōdan ni, minna ga zokuzoku to warai tsuzuketa.
English: Everyone kept laughing one after another at his joke.
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