研 means “polish, sharpen”

けん · ken

Also: study of

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

とぐ

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ケン

JLPT N4 · Taught in grade 3 · 9 strokes

The story

A stone (石) ground flat and even: the whetstone where blades and minds are sharpened alike. Paired with 究 it becomes 研究: research, the patient grinding of a question until it gleams.

Used in 研究 (kenkyuu, research), 研ぐ (togu, to sharpen), and 研修 (kenshuu, training)

More from Scholar's Path

• 究 research
• 質 quality
• 験 test
• 英 English
• 勉 effort
• 漢 China
• 意 meaning
• 強 strong
• 説 explain

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

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