参 means “join, visit”

さん · san

Also: nonplussed, three (in documents), going, coming

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

まいる, まい-, まじわる, みつ

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

サン, シン

JLPT N3 · Taught in grade 4 · 8 strokes

The story

Picture a person (大) dressed for a festival, hair pinned (厶) and ribbons trailing (彡), on the way to join in. 参加 is taking part, お参り a visit to a shrine, and platforms announce trains with 電車が参ります.

Used in 参加 (sanka, participation), 参考 (sankou, reference), and お参り (omairi, shrine or temple visit)

More from Council & Debate

• 論 argument
• 投 throw
• 談 talk
• 可 possible
• 断 refuse
• 否 no
• 許 permit
• 賛 approve
• 議 debate
• 対 versus
• 定 fix
• 選 choose

Learn 参 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.