間 Kanji: Meaning, Readings and Stroke Order

間: interval; space; between; room. JLPT N5; 12 strokes.

Readings

On readings

カン、ケン

Kun readings

あいだ、ま

Romaji

kan, ken, aida, ma

Study notes

間 indicates the space or time that separates two things: an interval, a pause, a room.

On readings: カン in 時間 (じかん, time, hours), 期間 (きかん, period), 週間 (しゅうかん, week as duration), 年間 (ねんかん, duration of a year), 空間 (くうかん, space). ケン in 世間 (せけん, society, world) and, voiced in ゲン, in 人間 (にんげん, human being).

Kun readings: あいだ, 'space or time between two things' (駅と家の間, between the station and home; 夏休みの間, during summer holidays). ま, 'interval, moment, room': 間に合う (まにあう, to make it in time), 仲間 (なかま, companion), 居間 (いま, stay), 昼間 (ひるま, daytime hours).

Remember: 〜間 after a number indicates duration: 二時間 (にじかん, two hours), 三日間 (みっかかん, three days). 間違い (まちがい, error) and 間違える (まちがえる, to make a mistake) are very frequent.

Example words

• 時間 (じかん) — time; hours
• 世間 (せけん) — society; public opinion
• 間 (あいだ) — between; during
• 間に合う (まにあう) — make it in time
• 間銭 (あいせん) — handling fee; commission

Example sentences

学校と駅の間に公園があります。

gakkou to eki no aida ni kouen ga arimasu.

There is a park between the school and the station.

Stroke order

Follow the steps in order. Each new stroke is highlighted.

Stroke paths: KanjiVG, CC BY-SA 3.0. Sequential diagrams derived from the original paths.