Readings: リン (Onyomi), のぞ-む (Kunyomi)
Meaning: face, meet, confront, attend, look to, be on the verge of
The character 臨 depicts a person (人) looking down from a high place (品) onto a dish (皿). This suggests the meaning of “overlooking,” “facing,” or “looking down upon.” It conveys a sense of facing something, overseeing, or being present.
View JLPT N1 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 臨 consists of 9 strokes. It starts with the two horizontal strokes at the top, followed by the two vertical strokes forming the 品 radical. Then the 臣 radical is written below it, starting with the vertical stroke on the left, followed by the horizontal-vertical-horizontal stroke, and finally the two short horizontal strokes on the right. The final strokes form the bottom component.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 臣 |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 9 |
| JLPT Level | N1 |
| Grade | S |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- リン (RIN)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- のぞむ (nozomu)
Common Words Using 臨
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 臨時 | りんじ | temporary, special, extraordinary |
| 臨場 | りんじょう | being present on the scene, attendance |
| 臨床 | りんしょう | clinical (medicine) |
| 臨戦 | りんせん | facing war, on the verge of war |
| 臨終 | りんじゅう | one’s last moments, deathbed |
| 臨海 | りんかい | coastal, seaside |
| 臨月 | りんげつ | the last month of pregnancy |
| 臨席 | りんせき | attendance, presence (at a meeting) |
| 臨検 | りんけん | inspection, search |
| 臨済宗 | りんざいしゅう | Rinzai sect (of Zen Buddhism) |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 臨む | のぞむ | to face, to look out on, to be on the verge of, to attend |
| 試験に臨む | しけんにのぞむ | to face an exam |
| 危険に臨む | きけんにのぞむ | to face danger |
| 本番に臨む | ほんばんにのぞむ | to face the real performance/show |
| 舞台に臨む | ぶたいにのぞむ | to go on stage, to perform |
| 決戦に臨む | けっせんにのぞむ | to face the decisive battle |
| 別れに臨む | わかれにのぞむ | to face separation |
| 窓に臨む | まどにのぞむ | to face a window (e.g., a room facing a window) |
| 海に臨む | うみにのぞむ | to face the sea (e.g., a house facing the sea) |
| 死に臨む | しにのぞむ | to be on one’s deathbed, to face death |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 臨時ニュースが入りました。
Kana: りんじニュースがはいりました。
Romaji: Rinji nyūsu ga hairimashita.
English: We have a special news report.
Japanese: 彼は臨終の際に家族に見守られた。
Kana: かれはりんじゅうのさいにかぞくにみまもられた。
Romaji: Kare wa rinjū no sai ni kazoku ni mimamorareta.
English: He was watched over by his family in his last moments.
Japanese: この部屋は海に臨んでいます。
Kana: このへやはうみにのぞんでいます。
Romaji: Kono heya wa umi ni nozonde imasu.
English: This room faces the sea.
Japanese: 彼女は大きな挑戦に臨む準備をしている。
Kana: かのじょはおおきなちょうせんにのぞむじゅんびをしている。
Romaji: Kanojo wa ookina chōsen ni nozomu junbi wo shiteiru.
English: She is preparing to face a big challenge.
Japanese: 医師は患者の臨床データを注意深く観察した。
Kana: いしはかんじゃのりんしょうデータをちゅういぶかくかんさつした。
Romaji: Ishi wa kanja no rinshō dēta wo chūibukaku kansatsu shita.
English: The doctor carefully observed the patient’s clinical data.
Japanese: 試合に臨む選手たちは緊張していた。
Kana: しあいにのぞむせんしゅたちはきんちょうしていた。
Romaji: Shiai ni nozomu senshutachi wa kinchō shiteita.
English: The athletes facing the game were nervous.
Japanese: 臨月の妊婦は特に体調管理が重要です。
Kana: りんげつのにんぷはとくにたいちょうかんりがじゅうようです。
Romaji: Ringetsu no ninpu wa tokuni taichō kanri ga jūyō desu.
English: It is especially important for pregnant women in their last month to manage their physical condition.
Japanese: 事件現場に臨場した警察官が状況を報告した。
Kana: じけんげんばにりんじょうしたけいさつかんがじょうきょうをほうこくした。
Romaji: Jiken genba ni rinjō shita keisatsukan ga jōkyō wo hōkoku shita.
English: The police officer who was present at the crime scene reported the situation.
Japanese: 彼はどんな困難にも臆することなく臨む。
Kana: かれはどんなこんなんにもおくすることなくのぞむ。
Romaji: Kare wa donna konnan ni mo oku suru koto naku nozomu.
English: He faces any difficulty without hesitation.
Japanese: 政府は臨時の会議を招集した。
Kana: せいふはりんじのかいぎをしょうしゅうした。
Romaji: Seifu wa rinji no kaigi wo shōshū shita.
English: The government convened an emergency meeting.
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