Readings: クン (Onyomi), おし.える, よ.む (Kunyomi)
Meaning: instruction, to teach, to train, precept, maxim
A phono-semantic compound: 言 (word, speech) + 川 (river, stream, here phonetic for sound and meaning of flowing/following). Represents words flowing out or being passed down, hence “instruction” or “teaching”.
View JLPT N2 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 訓 has 10 strokes. It starts with the 言 radical on the left, written with 7 strokes. Then, the right part, 川, is written with 3 strokes. Focus on proper stroke order for the 言 radical (top to bottom, then the square, then inner lines, then vertical final stroke) before adding the three vertical strokes of 川.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 言 (ことばへん) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 10 |
| JLPT Level | N2 |
| Grade | S (Jouyou) |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- クン (Kun)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- おしえる (oshieru)
- よむ (yomu)
Common Words Using 訓
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 訓練 | くんれん | training, drill |
| 教訓 | きょうくん | lesson, precept, moral |
| 訓読み | くんよみ | Japanese reading (of a kanji) |
| 特訓 | とっくん | special training, intensive training |
| 家訓 | かくん | family precept |
| 訓示 | くんじ | instruction, directive |
| 訓育 | くんいく | moral education, upbringing |
| 校訓 | こうくん | school motto |
| 社訓 | しゃくん | company motto/creed |
| 調教 | ちょうきょう | training (of animals), breaking in |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 訓える | おしえる | to teach, to instruct (less common than 教える) |
| 訓む | よむ | to read (e.g., in kundoku) |
| 訓え | おしえ | teaching, instruction (noun form of 訓える) |
| 訓え子 | おしえご | pupil, disciple (often written as 教え子) |
| 訓え方 | おしえかた | way of teaching |
| 訓えを受ける | おしえをうける | to receive instruction |
| 訓えを乞う | おしえをこう | to ask for instruction |
| 訓えに背く | おしえにそむく | to go against teaching |
| 訓えに従う | おしえにしたがう | to follow instruction |
| 訓むべき | よむべき | should read (e.g., a text according to kunyomi) |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 彼らは厳しい訓練を受けている。
Kana: かれらはきびしいくんれんをうけている。
Romaji: Karera wa kibishii kunren o ukete iru.
English: They are undergoing strict training.
Japanese: この失敗から教訓を学んだ。
Kana: このしっぱいからきょうくんをまなんだ。
Romaji: Kono shippai kara kyoukun o mananda.
English: I learned a lesson from this failure.
Japanese: この漢字の訓読みは何ですか。
Kana: このかんじのくんよみはなんですか。
Romaji: Kono kanji no kun’yomi wa nan desu ka?
English: What is the Japanese reading of this kanji?
Japanese: 彼は試験のために特訓した。
Kana: かれはしけんのためにとっくんした。
Romaji: Kare wa shiken no tame ni tokkun shita.
English: He underwent special training for the exam.
Japanese: 我が家の家訓は「正直であれ」だ。
Kana: わがやのかくんは「しょうじきであれ」だ。
Romaji: Wagaya no kakun wa “shoujiki de are” da.
English: Our family precept is “Be honest.”
Japanese: 校長先生が全校生徒に訓示を与えた。
Kana: こうちょうせんせいがぜんこうせいとにくんじをあたえた。
Romaji: Kouchou-sensei ga zenkou seito ni kunji o ataeta.
English: The principal gave instructions to all students.
Japanese: 幼い頃から道徳的な訓育が重要だ。
Kana: おさないころからどうとくてきなくんいくがじゅうようだ。
Romaji: Osanai koro kara doutokuteki na kun’iku ga juuyou da.
English: Moral education from a young age is important.
Japanese: その犬は調教されている。
Kana: そのいぬはちょうきょうされている。
Romaji: Sono inu wa choukyou sarete iru.
English: That dog is trained (animal).
Japanese: 我が校の校訓は「自立」です。
Kana: わがこうのこうくんは「じりつ」です。
Romaji: Wagakou no koukun wa “Jiritsu” desu.
English: Our school motto is “Independence.”
Japanese: 会社の社訓を唱和する。
Kana: かいしゃのしゃくんをしょうわする。
Romaji: Kaisha no shakun o shouwa suru.
English: We recite the company motto.
Related Grammar & kanji list
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