Readings: デン (Onyomi), つたわる, つたえる, つたえ, づたい (Kunyomi)
Meaning: transmit, report, communicate, tradition, legend, convey
The kanji 伝 (den) combines the radical 人 (person) and the phonetic component 専 (sen), which implies “exclusively” or “specialized.” Together, it suggests the idea of “passing something on” or “transmitting” from one person to another, often in a specialized or dedicated manner.
View JLPT N3 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 伝 is written with 6 strokes. It starts with the radical 人 (ninben) on the left, followed by the four strokes of 専 on the right.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 人 (にんべん) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 6 |
| JLPT Level | N3 |
| Grade | 3 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- デン (Den)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- つたわる (tsutawaru)
- つたえる (tsutaeru)
- つたえ (tsutae)
- づたい (zutai)
Common Words Using 伝
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 伝言 | でんごん | message, verbal message |
| 伝説 | でんせつ | legend, tradition |
| 伝染 | でんせん | contagion, infection |
| 伝達 | でんたつ | transmission, communication |
| 伝記 | でんき | biography |
| 遺伝 | いでん | heredity, genetic |
| 伝来 | でんらい | transmission, introduction (from abroad) |
| 伝播 | でんぱ | propagation, transmission (of ideas, waves) |
| 伝票 | でんぴょう | slip, sales slip, voucher |
| 伝道 | でんどう | missionary work, evangelism |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 伝える | つたえる | to convey, to transmit, to tell |
| 伝わる | つたわる | to be conveyed, to be transmitted, to be introduced |
| 手伝う | てつだう | to help, to assist |
| 言い伝える | いいつたえる | to transmit by word of mouth, to hand down |
| 申し伝える | もうしつたえる | to convey a message (humble) |
| 伝え聞く | つたえきく | to hear by word of mouth |
| 伝い歩き | つたいあるき | walking while holding onto something (e.g., a baby learning to walk) |
| 伝わりにくい | つたわりにくい | hard to convey, difficult to transmit |
| 伝わりやすい | つたわりやすい | easy to convey, easy to transmit |
| 伝え合う | つたえあう | to communicate with each other, to convey to each other |
Example Sentences
Japanese: このニュースはすぐにみんなに伝わった。
Kana: このニュースはすぐにみんなにつたわった。
Romaji: Kono nyūsu wa sugu ni minna ni tsutawatta.
English: This news quickly spread to everyone.
Japanese: 彼は私にその秘密を伝えた。
Kana: かれはわたしにそのひみつをつたえた。
Romaji: Kare wa watashi ni sono himitsu o tsutaeta.
English: He told me that secret.
Japanese: お手伝いしましょうか？
Kana: おてつだいしましょうか？
Romaji: O-tetsudai shimashō ka?
English: Shall I help you?
Japanese: 昔から伝わる話があります。
Kana: むかしからつたわるはなしがあります。
Romaji: Mukashi kara tsutawaru hanashi ga arimasu.
English: There is a story that has been handed down from ancient times.
Japanese: 彼のメッセージは正確に伝わった。
Kana: かれのメッセージはせいかくにつたわった。
Romaji: Kare no messēji wa seikaku ni tsutawatta.
English: His message was accurately conveyed.
Japanese: この病気は人に伝染する。
Kana: このびょうきはひとにでんせんする。
Romaji: Kono byōki wa hito ni densen suru.
English: This disease is contagious to humans.
Japanese: その伝説は村人によって語り伝えられている。
Kana: そのでんせつはむらびとによってかたりつたえられている。
Romaji: Sono densetsu wa murabito ni yotte katari tsutaerarete iru.
English: That legend is handed down by the villagers.
Japanese: 部長に伝言をお願いします。
Kana: ぶちょうにでんごんをおねがいします。
Romaji: Buchō ni dengon o onegai shimasu.
English: Please give a message to the department manager.
Japanese: 気持ちがうまく伝わらない。
Kana: きもちがうまgくつたわらない。
Romaji: Kimochi ga umaku tsutawaranai.
English: My feelings are not conveyed well.
Japanese: これは代々伝えられている伝統だ。
Kana: これはだいだいにつたえられているでんとうだ。
Romaji: Kore wa daidai tsutaerarete iru dentō da.
English: This is a tradition passed down through generations.
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