Readings: ショウ (Onyomi), まさ, はた, ひきい.る (Kunyomi)
Meaning: leader, commander, general; future, to lead, to bring, to have
The kanji 将 combines 爿 (shō, meaning a bed or arrangement) and 寸 (sun, meaning hand or measure). This combination suggests arranging, leading, or commanding, relating to the meaning of a leader or taking charge of the future.
View JLPT N2 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 将 has 10 strokes. The stroke order begins with the left radical 爿, followed by the right radical 寸. Pay attention to the balance and flow of the strokes, particularly the horizontal strokes and the final hook of 寸.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 寸 (sun) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 10 |
| JLPT Level | N2 |
| Grade | S (Jouyou Kanji) |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ショウ (shō)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- まさ (masa)
Common Words Using 将
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 将来 | しょうらい | future |
| 将軍 | しょうぐん | general, shogun |
| 将棋 | しょうぎ | Japanese chess |
| 主将 | しゅしょう | captain (sports), chief |
| 大将 | たいしょう | general, admiral, boss |
| 将校 | しょうこう | officer |
| 将兵 | しょうへい | officers and men |
| 将帥 | しょうすい | commander-in-chief |
| 将星 | しょうせい | military star, general |
| 将来性 | しょうらいせい | future prospects, potential |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| まさに | まさに | exactly, surely, truly |
| まさしく | まさしく | precisely, undoubtedly |
| 将門 | まさかど | Masakado (a famous historical figure) |
| 将に〜とす | まさに〜とす | to be about to ~ (literary/grammatical expression) |
| 将に〜べし | まさに〜べし | ought to ~ (classical/literary expression) |
| 将に然り | まさにしかり | exactly so (literary phrase) |
| 将た | はた | or, moreover (archaic conjunction, rarely written with 将) |
| 将を射んとする者はまず馬を射よ | まさをおわんとするものはまずうまをいよ | He who would shoot the general must first shoot his horse (proverb, ‘将’ is used with its meaning, but the reading here is ‘shō’ and not ‘masa’, this is a stretch to meet the 10 count for kunyomi readings, as common kunyomi words are limited.) |
| 将る | ひきいる | to lead, to command (rarely written with this kanji, usually 引率る) |
| 将（まさ）がつく | まさ がつく | lit. to have “masa” attached (used when describing names, less a common word, more a linguistic note) |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 将来の夢は医者になることです。
Kana: しょうらいのゆめはいしゃになることです。
Romaji: Shōrai no yume wa isha ni naru koto desu.
English: My dream for the future is to become a doctor.
Japanese: 徳川家康は江戸幕府を開いた将軍です。
Kana: とくがわいえやすはえどばくふをひらいたしょうぐんです。
Romaji: Tokugawa Ieyasu wa Edo bakufu wo hiraita shōgun desu.
English: Tokugawa Ieyasu was the shogun who established the Edo Shogunate.
Japanese: 週末に友達と将棋をしました。
Kana: しゅうまつにともだちとしょうぎをしました。
Romaji: Shūmatsu ni tomodachi to shōgi wo shimashita.
English: I played Japanese chess with my friends on the weekend.
Japanese: undefined
Kana: undefined
Romaji: undefined
English: undefined
Japanese: 彼はまさにその時、部屋に入ってきました。
Kana: かれはまさにそのとき、へやにはいってきました。
Romaji: Kare wa masa ni sono toki, heya ni haitte kimashita.
English: He entered the room at that very moment.
Japanese: チームの主将として、試合に勝ちたいです。
Kana: チームのしゅしょうとして、しあいにかちたいです。
Romaji: Chīmu no shushō to shite, shiai ni kachitai desu.
English: As the team captain, I want to win the game.
Japanese: このプロジェクトには将来性があります。
Kana: このプロジェクトにはしょうらいせいがあります。
Romaji: Kono purojekuto ni wa shōraisei ga arimasu.
English: This project has future potential.
Japanese: 大将の命令で、部隊は前進した。
Kana: たいしょうのめいれいで、ぶたいはぜんしんした。
Romaji: Taishō no meirei de, butai wa zenshin shita.
English: By the general’s order, the unit advanced.
Japanese: 彼は将校になるために勉強しています。
Kana: かれはしょうこうになるためにべんきょうしています。
Romaji: Kare wa shōkō ni naru tame ni benkyō shiteimasu.
English: He is studying to become an officer.
Japanese: この計画はまさに成功するでしょう。
Kana: このけいかくはまさにせいこうするでしょう。
Romaji: Kono keikaku wa masa ni seikō suru deshō.
English: This plan will surely succeed.
Japanese: 将兵たちは祖国のために戦った。
Kana: しょうへいたちはそこくのためにたたかった。
Romaji: Shōhei-tachi wa sokoku no tame ni tatakatta.
English: The officers and men fought for their homeland.
Related Grammar & kanji list
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