Readings: コク (Onyomi), きざ.む, きざ.み (Kunyomi)
Meaning: Engrave, carve, cut, time, minute, chop
The kanji 刻 is composed of 亥 (いのこ: wild boar, also an ancient character representing a pestle or mortar) and 刀 (かたな: knife, sword). This combination suggests “carving with a knife” or “cutting precisely.” It evolved to mean to engrave, to carve, and later to represent divisions of time, likely from the idea of marking time (like on a sundial) or precisely measuring it.
View JLPT N3 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The stroke order for 刻 begins with the horizontal stroke at the top left, followed by the two strokes that form the top right component (similar to 亥). Then the left vertical stroke of the radical 刀, followed by the hook, and finally the last two strokes of 刀.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 刀 |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 8 |
| JLPT Level | N3 |
| Grade | 6 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- 刻 (koku)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- 刻む (kizamu)
- 刻み (kizami)
Common Words Using 刻
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 時刻 | じこく | Time, moment |
| 刻限 | こくげん | Time limit, fixed time |
| 刻一刻 | こくいっこく | Moment by moment, every moment |
| 即刻 | そっこく | Immediately, instantly |
| 定刻 | ていこく | Fixed time, regular time |
| 遅刻 | ちこく | Lateness, tardiness |
| 刻銘 | こくめい | Inscription, engraving |
| 刻下 | こっか | At present, currently |
| 終刻 | しゅうこく | Closing time |
| 寸刻 | すんこく | A short time, a moment |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 刻む | きざむ | To chop, to mince, to engrave, to carve, to tick (time) |
| 刻み | きざみ | A chop, a cut, a notch; chopped ingredients |
| 時間を刻む | じかんをきざむ | To tick away (time) |
| 名を刻む | なをきざむ | To engrave one’s name, to make one’s mark |
| 心に刻む | こころにきざむ | To engrave in one’s heart, to bear in mind |
| 歳月を刻む | さいげつをきざむ | To accumulate years, to mark the passage of time |
| 刻み葱 | きざみねぎ | Chopped green onions |
| 刻み海苔 | きざみのり | Shredded nori (seaweed) |
| 刻み込む | きざみこむ | To engrave deeply, to impress upon |
| 刻み付ける | きざみつける | To carve into, to engrave |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 電車は定刻に発車しました。
Kana: でんしゃはていこくにはっしゃしました。
Romaji: Densha wa teikoku ni hassha shimashita.
English: The train departed on time.
Japanese: 玉ねぎを細かく刻んでください。
Kana: たまねぎをこまかくきざんでください。
Romaji: Tamanegi o komakaku kizande kudasai.
English: Please finely chop the onion.
Japanese: 彼の言葉は私の心に深く刻まれた。
Kana: かれのことばはわたしのこころにふかくきざまれた。
Romaji: Kare no kotoba wa watashi no kokoro ni fukaku kizamareta.
English: His words were deeply engraved in my heart.
Japanese: 彼は遅刻せずに会議に間に合った。
Kana: かれはちこくせずにかいぎにまにあった。
Romaji: Kare wa chikoku sezu ni kaigi ni ma ni atta.
English: He made it to the meeting without being late.
Japanese: その時計は正確な時刻を示しています。
Kana: そのとけいはせいかくなしこくをしめしています。
Romaji: Sono tokei wa seikaku na jikoku o shimeshite imasu.
English: That clock shows the exact time.
Japanese: 石に名前が刻まれている。
Kana: いしになまえがきざまれている。
Romaji: Ishi ni namae ga kizamarete iru.
English: A name is carved into the stone.
Japanese: 時間は刻一刻と過ぎていく。
Kana: じかんはこくいっこくとすぎていく。
Romaji: Jikan wa koku ikkoku to sugite iku.
English: Time passes moment by moment.
Japanese: 即刻、その場所へ向かってください。
Kana: そっこく、そのばしょへむかってください。
Romaji: Sokkokku, sono basho e mukatte kudasai.
English: Please head to that location immediately.
Japanese: 彼の偉業は歴史に刻まれるだろう。
Kana: かれのいぎょうはれきしにきざまれるだろう。
Romaji: Kare no igyō wa rekishi ni kizamareu darou.
English: His great achievement will be etched into history.
Japanese: この思い出は心に刻み込まれるでしょう。
Kana: このおもいではこころにきざみこまれるでしょう。
Romaji: Kono omoide wa kokoro ni kizamikomareru deshou.
English: This memory will be deeply etched into my heart.
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