Readings: シュウ, ジュ (Onyomi), つ-く, つ-ける (Kunyomi)
Meaning: to settle, to adhere, to arrive, to take (a position), to be employed
The kanji 就 is a phono-semantic compound. It combines 京 (jīng, “capital/tall building” – often simplified) representing a high place, and 尤 (yóu, “excellent/especially” – simplified to 尢, “lame/bent legs”) symbolizing movement towards. The character depicts moving towards a goal or a higher position, leading to meanings of “to approach,” “to accomplish,” or “to take up a position.
View JLPT N1 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 就 consists of 12 strokes. It begins with the top elements, followed by the left radical 尢, and then the right side. Pay attention to the order and direction of each stroke for correct writing.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 尢 (尣) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 12 |
| JLPT Level | N1 |
| Grade | S |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- シュウ (shū)
- ジュ (ju)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- つく (tsuku)
- つける (tsukeru)
Common Words Using 就
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 就職 | しゅうしょく | employment; getting a job |
| 就労 | しゅうろう | employment; working |
| 就任 | しゅうにん | inauguration; assumption of office |
| 就寝 | しゅうしん | going to bed; retiring |
| 就学 | しゅうがく | enrollment; going to school |
| 成就 | じょうじゅ | accomplishment; fulfillment |
| 就活 | しゅうかつ | job hunting (abbreviation of 就職活動) |
| 就農 | しゅうのう | taking up farming |
| 就業 | しゅうぎょう | commencement of work; getting a job |
| 就籍 | しゅうせき | entering one’s name in a family register |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 就く | つく | to take (a seat, a position); to set about |
| 就ける | つける | to place (someone in a position); to assign |
| 職に就く | しょくにつく | to take up a job/post |
| 席に就く | せきにつく | to take a seat |
| 位に就く | くらいにつく | to assume a rank/position |
| 床に就く | とこにつく | to go to bed (colloquial/literary) |
| 眠りに就く | ねむりにつく | to go to sleep |
| 任に就く | にんにつく | to assume a duty/post |
| 学業に就く | がくぎょうにつく | to engage in academic pursuits |
| 病に就く | やまいにつく | to fall ill |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 彼は先月、新しい会社に就職した。
Kana: かれはせんげつ、あたらしいかいしゃにしゅうしょくした。
Romaji: Kare wa sengetsu, atarashii kaisha ni shūshoku shita.
English: He got a job at a new company last month.
Japanese: 社長に就任してから、彼は多忙な日々を送っている。
Kana: しゃちょうにしゅうにんしてから、かれはたぼうなひびをおくっている。
Romaji: Shachō ni shūnin shite kara, kare wa tabō na hibi o okutte iru.
English: Since taking office as president, he has been busy every day.
Japanese: 毎日午後10時に就寝します。
Kana: まいにちごご10じにしゅうしんします。
Romaji: Mainichi gogo jū-ji ni shūshin shimasu.
English: I go to bed at 10 PM every day.
Japanese: この仕事に就くのは私の長年の夢でした。
Kana: このしごとにつくのはわたしのながねんのゆめでした。
Romaji: Kono shigoto ni tsuku no wa watashi no naganen no yume deshita.
English: Taking this job was my long-cherished dream.
Japanese: 彼は自分の夢を成就させるために、日々努力している。
Kana: かれはじぶんのゆめをじょうじゅさせるために、ひびどりょくしている。
Romaji: Kare wa jibun no yume o jōju saseru tame ni, hibi doryoku shite iru.
English: He strives daily to achieve his dream.
Japanese: 大学卒業後、彼女は就職活動を始めた。
Kana: だいがくそつぎょうご、かのじょはしゅうしょくかつどうをはじめた。
Romaji: Daigaku sotsugyō-go, kanojo wa shūshoku katsudō o hajimeta.
English: After graduating from university, she started job hunting.
Japanese: 新しいプロジェクトに彼を就けることになった。
Kana: あたらしいプロジェクトにかれをつけることになった。
Romaji: Atarashii purojekuto ni kare o tsukeru koto ni natta.
English: It was decided that he would be assigned to the new project.
Japanese: 学生たちは静かに席に就いた。
Kana: がくせいたちはしずかにせきについた。
Romaji: Gakuseitachi wa shizuka ni seki ni tsuita.
English: The students quietly took their seats.
Japanese: 彼は春から新しい学業に就く予定だ。
Kana: かれははるからあたらしいがくぎょうにつくよていだ。
Romaji: Kare wa haru kara atarashii gakugyō ni tsuku yotei da.
English: He is scheduled to start new academic studies from spring.
Japanese: 父は疲れて、すぐに床に就いた。
Kana: ちちはつかれて、すぐにゆかについた。
Romaji: Chichi wa tsukarete, sugu ni toko ni tsuita.
English: My father was tired and went to bed immediately.
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