Kanji N1

検: examination, investigate

検 is a JLPT N1 kanji meaning examination, investigate, written with 12 strokes. It is read ケン (on) and しらべる (kun). Children in Japan learn it in grade 5. You will see it in 検査 (けんさ, inspection) and 検討 (けんとう, consideration).

検

Meanings

  • examination
  • investigate
Strokes12
JLPT levelN1
School gradeGrade 5
Frequency#290 of 2,500

On reading · Kun reading

On reading
  • ケン

On'yomi: from Chinese, written in katakana. Used in compound words.

Kun reading
  • しらべる

Kun'yomi: native Japanese, in hiragana. The faint part is the okurigana, written in kana after the kanji.

Watch the stroke order

Every stroke in order, the live one in vermilion. Replay as often as you like.

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Now draw it

Trace each stroke in order. Wrong direction or wrong order gets flagged right away.

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Your turn: draw stroke 1 of 12. Start at the dot.

Common words with 検

The most useful words written with it, easiest first. Every other kanji in them opens its own page.

  • 検査けんさ

    inspection (e.g. customs, factory); examination

    JLPT N3
  • 検討けんとう

    consideration; examination; investigation; study

    JLPT N3
  • 検事けんじ

    public prosecutor

    JLPT N1
  • 点検てんけん

    detailed inspection; thorough examination

    JLPT N1
  • 探検たんけん

    exploration; expedition

    JLPT N1
  • 検察けんさつ

    criminal investigation; prosecution

  • 地検ちけん

    District Public Prosecutor's Office

  • 検定けんてい

    official certification; official approval

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Stroke order from KanjiVG © Ulrich Apel, CC BY-SA 3.0. Readings, meanings and words from KANJIDIC2 and JMdict, names from JMnedict, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA 4.0, and Wikidata, CC0. JLPT lists after Jonathan Waller (tanos.co.uk), CC BY.