Readings: コウ (Onyomi), そうろう (Kunyomi)
Meaning: weather, season, wait for, depend on, sign, symptom
The character combines the radical for “person” (亻) and a component that suggests “waiting” or “observing the climate.” It depicts a person observing the changing seasons or conditions.
View JLPT N3 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 候 is written with 10 strokes. It starts with the radical 亻 (person radical) on the left, followed by the right side which resembles 矢 (arrow) on top of the bottom component. Pay attention to the order and flow for a balanced character.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 亻 (にんべん) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 10 |
| JLPT Level | N3 |
| Grade | S (Jouyou) |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- コウ (KOU)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- そうろう (sourou)
Common Words Using 候
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 気候 | きこう | climate |
| 候補 | こうほ | candidate, nominee |
| 天候 | てんこう | weather |
| 兆候 | ちょうこう | sign, indication, symptom |
| 時候 | じこう | season, time of year |
| 候鳥 | こうちょう | migratory bird |
| 候文 | こうぶん | classical epistolary style |
| 候選 | こうせん | selection of candidates (less common) |
| 候風 | こうふう | seasonal wind (less common) |
| 候時 | こうじ | waiting time, opportune moment (less common) |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 候う | そうろう | to be (classical polite verb), to serve, to wait upon |
| 候う | そうろう | to be (classical polite verb), to serve, to wait upon |
| 候う | そうろう | to be (classical polite verb), to serve, to wait upon |
| 候う | そうろう | to be (classical polite verb), to serve, to wait upon |
| 候う | そうろう | to be (classical polite verb), to serve, to wait upon |
| 候う | そうろう | to be (classical polite verb), to serve, to wait upon |
| 候う | そうろう | to be (classical polite verb), to serve, to wait upon |
| 候う | そうろう | to be (classical polite verb), to serve, to wait upon |
| 候う | そうろう | to be (classical polite verb), to serve, to wait upon |
| 候う | そうろう | to be (classical polite verb), to serve, to wait upon |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 日本の気候は四季がはっきりしています。
Kana: にほんのきこうはしきがはっきりしています。
Romaji: Nihon no kikō wa shiki ga hakkiri shiteimasu.
English: Japan’s climate has distinct four seasons.
Japanese: 彼は次期社長の有力な候補だ。
Kana: かれはじきしゃちょうのゆうりょくなこうほだ。
Romaji: Kare wa jiki shachō no yūryoku na kōho da.
English: He is a strong candidate for the next president.
Japanese: 今日の天候は不安定です。
Kana: きょうのてんこうはふあんていです。
Romaji: Kyō no tenkō wa fuantei desu.
English: Today’s weather is unstable.
Japanese: 病気の兆候が見られたら、すぐに医者に行ってください。
Kana: びょうきのちょうこうがみられたら、すぐにいしゃにいってください。
Romaji: Byōki no chōkō ga miraretara, sugu ni isha ni itte kudasai.
English: If you see symptoms of illness, please go to the doctor immediately.
Japanese: 時候の挨拶を交わす。
Kana: じこうのあいさつをかわす。
Romaji: Jikō no aisatsu o kawasu.
English: To exchange seasonal greetings.
Japanese: 冬鳥が南へ渡っていくのは、候鳥の習性だ。
Kana: ふゆどりがみなみへわたっていくのは、こうちょうのしゅうせいだ。
Romaji: Fuyudori ga minami e watatte iku no wa, kōchō no shūsei da.
English: Winter birds migrating south is the habit of migratory birds.
Japanese: この文学作品は候文で書かれている。
Kana: このぶんがくさくひんはこうぶんでかかれている。
Romaji: Kono bungaku sakuhin wa kōbun de kakareteiru.
English: This literary work is written in classical epistolary style.
Japanese: 台風の接近に伴い、天候が荒れる恐れがあります。
Kana: たいふうのせっきんにともない、てんこうがあれるおそれがあります。
Romaji: Taifū no sekkin ni tomonai, tenkō ga areru osore ga arimasu.
English: With the approach of the typhoon, there is a risk of severe weather.
Japanese: 彼の行動は何か良くない兆候ではないかと心配だ。
Kana: かれのこうどうはなにかよくないちょうこうではないかと心配だ。
Romaji: Kare no kōdō wa nanika yokunai chōkō dewa nai ka to shinpai da.
English: I’m worried his behavior might be a bad sign.
Japanese: 来期の候補者リストが発表された。
Kana: らいきのこうほしゃリストがはっぴょうされた。
Romaji: Raiki no kōhosha risuto ga happyō sareta.
English: The list of candidates for the next term has been announced.
Related Grammar & kanji list
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