Readings: ザイ (Onyomi), あ.る (Kunyomi)
Meaning: exist, be, reside, located
The character combines 土 (earth, ground) and 才 (a phonetic component that also conveys the sense of ‘being capable’ or ‘being present’). It metaphorically represents something ‘existing on the ground’ or ‘being present’.
View JLPT N3 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The stroke order for 在 begins with the horizontal stroke from the radical, followed by the vertical stroke, then the horizontal closure. After completing the 土 radical, the strokes for 才 are drawn: the left-slanted stroke, then the short horizontal stroke, and finally the hook.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 土 |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 6 |
| JLPT Level | N3 |
| Grade | Grade 5 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ザイ (ZAI)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- あ.る (a.ru)
Common Words Using 在
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 存在 | そんざい | existence, being |
| 現在 | げんざい | present (time), current |
| 不在 | ふざい | absence |
| 滞在 | たいざい | stay, sojourn |
| 所在 | しょざい | whereabouts, location |
| 潜在 | せんざい | latent, potential |
| 在職 | ざいしょく | in office, employed |
| 在学 | ざいがく | (enrolled) in school |
| 在宅 | ざいたく | at home, home-based |
| 健在 | けんざい | in good health, alive and well |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 在り方 | ありかた | the way something should be, ideal state |
| 在りし日 | ありしひ | days gone by, former days |
| 在処 | ありか | whereabouts, hiding place (often archaic or literary) |
| 在る | ある | to exist, to be (base form of kun’yomi, less common in modern use compared to 有る or 居る) |
| 在るがまま | あるがまま | as it is, as things stand |
| 在るべき姿 | あるべきすがた | ideal form, how it should be |
| 在り続ける | ありつづける | to continue to exist/be |
| 在り得ない | ありえない | impossible, unthinkable |
| 在り合わせ | ありあわせ | what one has on hand (e.g., ingredients) |
| 在る所 | あるところ | a certain place, where something is |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 幽霊の存在を信じますか？
Kana: ゆうれいのそんざいをしんじますか？
Romaji: Yūrei no sonzai o shinjimasu ka?
English: Do you believe in the existence of ghosts?
Japanese: 現在、彼は東京に住んでいます。
Kana: げんざい、かれはとうきょうにすんでいます。
Romaji: Genzai, kare wa Tōkyō ni sunde imasu.
English: Currently, he lives in Tokyo.
Japanese: 彼は会議のため、現在不在です。
Kana: かれはかいぎのため、げんざいふざいです。
Romaji: Kare wa kaigi no tame, genzai fuzai desu.
English: He is currently absent for a meeting.
Japanese: 日本での滞在は楽しかったです。
Kana: にほんでのたいざいはたのしかったです。
Romaji: Nihon de no taizai wa tanoshikatta desu.
English: My stay in Japan was enjoyable.
Japanese: 彼の所在は不明です。
Kana: かれのしょざいはふめいです。
Romaji: Kare no shozai wa fumei desu.
English: His whereabouts are unknown.
Japanese: 誰もが潜在的な才能を持っています。
Kana: だれもがせんざいてきなさいのうをもっています。
Romaji: Daremo ga senzaiteki na sainō o motteimasu.
English: Everyone has latent talent.
Japanese: 彼女は20年間、同じ会社に在職しています。
Kana: かのじょはにじゅうねんかん、おなじかいしゃにざいしょくしています。
Romaji: Kanojo wa nijūnenkan, onaji kaisha ni zaishoku shiteimasu.
English: She has been employed at the same company for 20 years.
Japanese: 彼はまだ大学に在学中です。
Kana: かれはまだだいがくにざいがくちゅうです。
Romaji: Kare wa mada daigaku ni zaigakuchū desu.
English: He is still enrolled in university.
Japanese: 在宅勤務が増えています。
Kana: ざいたくきんむがふえています。
Romaji: Zaitaku kinmu ga fueteimasu.
English: Working from home is increasing.
Japanese: これからの社会の在り方を考える。
Kana: これからのしゃかいのありかたをかんがえる。
Romaji: Korekara no shakai no arikata o kangaeru.
English: To consider the ideal state of society from now on.
Related Grammar & kanji list
Expand your study with grammar and kanji lists for other JLPT levels:
I’m a software engineer based in Japan, with experience in developing web and mobile applications. I’m passionate about technology, especially in DevOps, AI, and app development using platforms like AWS, Flutter, and Node.js. My goal is to build a website that shares knowledge about the Japanese language and IT, helping everyone learn and grow more easily in the digital era.