Readings: ホ (Onyomi), おぎな-う (Kunyomi)
Meaning: supplement, supply, compensate, make up for, assist, help
Phono-semantic character (形声文字). The left part 衤 (衣) represents ‘clothing,’ and the right part 甫 (ホ) is the phonetic component, also implying ‘large’ or ‘support.’ Together, it originally related to ‘mending clothes’ or ‘patching,’ which evolved to the meaning of ‘supplementing’ or ‘making up for a deficiency.’
View JLPT N2 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 補 has 11 strokes. The stroke order starts with the radical on the left (衣/衤), followed by the components on the right.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 衣 (ころも) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 11 |
| JLPT Level | N2 |
| Grade | S (Jouyou Kanji) |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ホ (Ho)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- 補う (Oginau)
Common Words Using 補
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 補足 | ほそく | supplement, complement |
| 補充 | ほじゅう | replenishment, supplement |
| 補償 | ほしょう | compensation, reparation |
| 補給 | ほきゅう | supply, replenishment |
| 補強 | ほきょう | reinforcement, strengthening |
| 補助 | ほじょ | assistance, aid, subsidy |
| 補佐 | ほさ | assistance, aid, helping hand (often for a superior) |
| 補習 | ほしゅう | supplementary lesson/class |
| 補聴器 | ほちょうき | hearing aid |
| 補正 | ほせい | correction, revision |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 補う | おぎなう | to supplement, to compensate, to make up for |
| 補い | おぎない | supplement, compensation (noun form) |
| 補われる | おぎなわれる | to be supplemented/compensated (passive form) |
| 補い合う | おぎないあう | to complement each other, to make up for each other |
| 補えない | おぎなえない | cannot supplement/compensate (negative potential form) |
| 補われない | おぎなわれない | not supplemented/compensated (passive negative form) |
| 補い続ける | おぎないつづける | to continue supplementing/compensating |
| 補い始める | おぎないはじめる | to begin supplementing/compensating |
| 補って | おぎなって | supplementing (te-form) |
| 補うべき | おぎなうべき | should supplement/compensate (form indicating duty/obligation) |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 不足分を補足してください。
Kana: ふそくぶんをほそくしてください。
Romaji: Fusokubun o hosoku shite kudasai.
English: Please supplement the missing portion.
Japanese: ガソリンを補充しなければならない。
Kana: ガソリンをほじゅうしなければならない。
Romaji: Gasorin o hojū shinakereba naranai.
English: We must refuel the gasoline.
Japanese: 彼は災害で失われたものに対して補償を受けた。
Kana: かれはさいがいでうしなわれたものにたいしてほしょうをうけた。
Romaji: Kare wa saigai de ushinawareta mono ni taishite hoshō o uketa.
English: He received compensation for what was lost in the disaster.
Japanese: 食料の緊急補給が必要です。
Kana: しょくりょうのきんきゅうほきゅうがひつようです。
Romaji: Shokuryō no kinkyū hokyū ga hitsuyō desu.
English: Emergency food supplies are needed.
Japanese: 建物の基礎を補強する工事が行われた。
Kana: たてもののきそをほきょうするこうじがおこなわれた。
Romaji: Tatemono no kiso o hokyō suru kōji ga okonawareta.
English: Construction work was carried out to reinforce the building’s foundation.
Japanese: 政府は中小企業に補助金を出した。
Kana: せいふはちゅうしょうきぎょうにほじょきんをだした。
Romaji: Seifu wa chūshō kigyō ni hojokin o dashita.
English: The government provided subsidies to small and medium-sized enterprises.
Japanese: 秘書が社長の仕事を補佐する。
Kana: ひしょがしゃちょうのしごとをほさする。
Romaji: Hisho ga shachō no shigoto o hosa suru.
English: The secretary assists the president with their work.
Japanese: 試験前に補習授業を受けた。
Kana: しけんまえにほしゅうじゅぎょうをうけた。
Romaji: Shiken mae ni hoshū jugyō o uketa.
English: I took supplementary classes before the exam.
Japanese: 祖父は補聴器を使っています。
Kana: そふはほちょうきをつかっています。
Romaji: Sofu wa hochōki o tsukatte imasu.
English: My grandfather uses a hearing aid.
Japanese: 足りない部分は、後で私が補います。
Kana: たりないぶぶんは、あとでわたしがおぎないます。
Romaji: Tarinai bubun wa, ato de watashi ga oginaimasu.
English: I will make up for the missing part later.
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