Readings: サツ, サク (Onyomi), (Kunyomi)
Meaning: Counter for books; volume; copy
The kanji 冊 is a pictograph depicting bamboo slips tied together with cords, representing an ancient book or document.
View JLPT N2 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 冊 is written with 5 strokes. The general order is top-left to top-right, then the vertical lines, and finally the bottom horizontal line that closes the “box” shape.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 冂 (けいがまえ) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 5 |
| JLPT Level | N2 |
| Grade | – (Not a specific grade school kanji, but for general knowledge it’s often taught around grade 4 for its simpler components.) |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- サツ (satsu)
- サク (saku)
Common Words Using 冊
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 一冊 | いっさつ | one copy/volume |
| 冊子 | さっし | booklet; pamphlet |
| 別冊 | べっさつ | separate volume; extra copy |
| 何冊 | なんさつ | how many books/volumes |
| 製本 | せいほん | bookbinding |
| 文庫本 | ぶんこぼん | paperback book (often small format) |
| 和綴じ | わとじ | Japanese traditional binding |
| 蔵書 | ぞうしょ | book collection; library |
| 短冊 | たんざく | strip of paper (for writing poems, wishes, etc.) |
| 書冊 | しょさつ | books (general term) |
Example Sentences
Japanese: この本は一冊いくらですか？
Kana: このほんはいっさついくらですか？
Romaji: Kono hon wa issatsu ikura desu ka?
English: How much is one copy of this book?
Japanese: 彼は新しい小説を何冊も書いた。
Kana: かれはあたらしいしょうせつをなんさつもかいた。
Romaji: Kare wa atarashii shousetsu o nansatsu mo kaita.
English: He wrote many new novels.
Japanese: 図書館で三冊の本を借りた。
Kana: としょかんでさんさつのほんをかりた。
Romaji: Toshokan de sansatsu no hon o karita.
English: I borrowed three books from the library.
Japanese: この漫画は全巻で二十冊あります。
Kana: このまんがはぜんかんでにじゅっさつあります。
Romaji: Kono manga wa zenkan de nijuusatsu arimasu.
English: This manga has twenty volumes in total.
Japanese: イベントで無料の冊子が配られた。
Kana: イベントでむりょうのさっしがくばられた。
Romaji: Ibento de muryou no sasshi ga kubarareta.
English: Free pamphlets were distributed at the event.
Japanese: その別冊には特別な情報が載っています。
Kana: そのべっさつにはとくべつなじょうほうがのっています。
Romaji: Sono bessatsu ni wa tokubetsu na jouhou ga notteimasu.
English: That separate volume contains special information.
Japanese: 卒業論文を製本して一冊にまとめた。
Kana: そつぎょうろんぶんをせいほんして いっさつにまとめた。
Romaji: Sotsugyouronbun o seihon shite issatsu ni matometa.
English: I bound my graduation thesis into one volume.
Japanese: 昔、短冊に願い事を書きました。
Kana: むかし、たんざくにねがいごとをかきました。
Romaji: Mukashi, tanzaku ni negaigoto o kakimashita.
English: In the past, I wrote wishes on tanzaku (strips of paper).
Japanese: 彼は毎月新しい本を数冊買う。
Kana: かれはまいつきあたらしいほんをすうさつかう。
Romaji: Kare wa maitsuki atarashii hon o suusatsu kau.
English: He buys several new books every month.
Japanese: 書斎には何千冊もの本が並んでいた。
Kana: しょさいにはなんぜんさつものほんがならんでいた。
Romaji: Shosai ni wa nanzen satsu mono hon ga narandeita.
English: Thousands of books lined the study.
Related Grammar & kanji list
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