Readings: サン (Onyomi), まい.る, まじわる (Kunyomi)
Meaning: participate, visit (a shrine/temple), consult, go, come, be humbled, reference
The kanji 参 (cān) originally depicted three people standing together, hence its ancient meaning of “three.” Over time, its meaning expanded to include “participate,” “visit (a shrine/temple),” or “come/go” due to its phonetic development and common usage in contexts requiring respectful presence or involvement. It retains a sense of joining or arriving at a place with purpose.
View JLPT N3 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 参 is written with 11 strokes. It begins with the top horizontal stroke, followed by the two diagonal strokes on the left and right, then the central vertical stroke, and finally the bottom components resembling the radical 厶.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 厶 |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 11 |
| JLPT Level | N3 |
| Grade | 4 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- サン (San)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- まい.る (mairu)
Common Words Using 参
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 参加 | さんか | participation |
| 参考 | さんこう | reference, consultation |
| 参議院 | さんぎいん | House of Councillors (upper house of Japanese parliament) |
| 参列 | さんれつ | attendance, presence |
| 参入 | さんにゅう | entering, joining (a market, etc.) |
| 参画 | さんかく | participation (in a plan, project) |
| 参集 | さんしゅう | gathering, assembly |
| 参拝 | さんぱい | visit (a shrine/temple) and worship |
| 参道 | さんどう | approach to a temple/shrine |
| 参謀 | さんぼう | staff officer, strategist |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 参る | まいる | to go; to come (humble); to visit (shrine/temple); to be defeated |
| お参り | おまいり | a visit (to a shrine/temple) |
| 参りました | まいりました | I’m beaten / I have arrived (humble polite past) |
| 参りましょう | まいりましょう | Let’s go (humble polite volitional) |
| 参らせる | まいらせる | to make someone go/come (causative) |
| 参り難い | まいるがたい | difficult to go/visit |
| 参り方 | まいりかた | way of going/visiting |
| 参り道 | まいりみち | path to a shrine/temple |
| 参り客 | まいりきゃく | visitor/worshipper |
| 参り初め | まいりぞめ | first visit (of the year) |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 会議に参加する。
Kana: かいぎにさんかする。
Romaji: Kaigi ni sanka suru.
English: To participate in the meeting.
Japanese: 神社にお参りする。
Kana: じんじゃにおまいりする。
Romaji: Jinja ni omairi suru.
English: To visit a shrine.
Japanese: そのニュースを聞いて、彼は参ってしまった。
Kana: そのニュースをきいて、かれはまいってしまった。
Romaji: Sono nyuusu o kiite, kare wa maitte shimatta.
English: Hearing that news, he was defeated/overwhelmed.
Japanese: 参考書で調べた。
Kana: さんこうしょでしらべた。
Romaji: Sankousho de shirabeta.
English: I looked it up in a reference book.
Japanese: 多くの人がお寺を参拝した。
Kana: おおくのひとがおてらをさんぱいした。
Romaji: Ooku no hito ga otera o sanpai shita.
English: Many people visited the temple to worship.
Japanese: 彼は私の意見を参考にすると言った。
Kana: かれはわたしのいけんをさんこうにするといった。
Romaji: Kare wa watashi no iken o sankou ni suru to itta.
English: He said he would take my opinion into consideration.
Japanese: 新しい市場に参入する。
Kana: あたらしいしじょうにさんにゅうする。
Romaji: Atarashii shijou ni sannyuu suru.
English: To enter a new market.
Japanese: 部長はもう会社に参っています。
Kana: ぶちょうはもうかいしゃにまいっています。
Romaji: Buchou wa mou kaisha ni matte imasu.
English: The manager has already arrived at the company (humble).
Japanese: みんなで計画に参画しよう。
Kana: みんなでけいかくにさんかくしよう。
Romaji: Minna de keikaku ni sankaku shiyou.
English: Let’s all participate in the plan.
Japanese: この道は参道なので、静かに歩きましょう。
Kana: このみちはさんどうなので、しずかにあるきましょう。
Romaji: Kono michi wa sandou nanode, shizuka ni arukimashou.
English: This is an approach to a shrine, so let’s walk quietly.
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