Kanji 司: director, official, govt office, rule, administer

Key takeaways

Kanji 司: director, official, govt office, rule, administer. Readings and core meaning.

See vocabulary and examples below.

Kanji at a glance

司

Meaning

directorofficialgovt officeruleadminister

On reading

シ

Kun reading

つかさど.る

Radical

口

Core meaning / core image

Core meaning: 司

director, official, govt office, rule, administer

Kanji structure breakdown

司

Structure breakdown

一 + 口

Mnemonic story

Imagine one (一) mouth (口) giving commands to lead others. This represents a director or official who rules or administers, as seen in words like 'boss' (上司) or 'moderator' (司會者).

On'yomi and kun'yomi

On reading

シ

司法しほう
judicial system / administration of justice
上司じょうし
boss / superior / manager
司会しかい
chairmanship / hosting / moderator

Kun reading

つかさど.る

司るつかさどる
to govern / to rule / to administer

Commonly used words

司法
しほう
judicial system / administration of justice
上司
じょうし
boss / superior / manager
司会
しかい
chairmanship / hosting / moderator
司る
つかさどる
to govern / to rule / to administer

Example sentences

Example 1

日本の司法制度は独立しています。

Translation

Japan's judicial system is independent.

Example 2

司法の役割は公正な裁きを行うことです。

Translation

The role of the judiciary is to deliver fair judgment.

Example 3

上司に報告を忘れないでください。

Translation

Don't forget to report to your boss.

Example 4

上司は仕事の進み具合を確認した。

Translation

The boss checked the progress of the work.

Kanji 司: director, official, govt office, rule, administer

Kanji at a glance

Core meaning / core image

Kanji structure breakdown

Mnemonic story

On'yomi and kun'yomi

On reading

Kun reading

Commonly used words

Example sentences

司法 (しほう): meaning and examples

上司 (じょうし): meaning and examples

司る (つかさどる): meaning and examples

司会 (しかい): meaning and examples