Studying the Kanji – 会 (Meeting)

In this article, we will study the kanji 会 and learn some words and verbs where it is used. This kanji means “to meet and gather,” and various words related to groups and societies often use this kanji.

The kanji 会 is the 4th most used in newspapers in Japan. It is considered an N4 kanji in the JLPT. More than 1000 words contain this kanji.

• Kun yomi: あ.う、 あ.わせる、 あつ.まる
• On yomi: カイ、 エ
• In Names: あい、 い
• Radical: 人
• Strokes: 6 

This kanji is easy to memorize, has few readings, and most of the words containing 会 are pronounced “kai.”

We must be careful not to confuse the kanji 会 with the kanji 合, as they are quite similar and have the same readings and some verbs and words with similar meanings.

Verbs with 会

• 会う (au) – To meet, see, encounter, confront, come across something;
• 会わせる – To make meet (to introduce);
• 会わす – Causative form of the verb 会う – to make meet

Words that start with 会

• 会 – Kai – Meeting, Club (Noun)
• 会議 – Kaigi – Conference, meeting
• 会話 – Kaiwa – Conversation
• 会員 – Kaiin – Member
• 会見 – Kaiken – Interview
• 会長 – Kaichō – President

Words ending with 会

• 社会 – Shakai – Society, community
• 宴会 – Enkai – Banquet
• 機会 – Kikai – Opportunity, chance, another time.
• 大会 – Taikai – Tournament, convention, large meeting

Words related to Places

The kanji 会 has several words related to places:

• 会社 – Kaisha – Company; corporation / workplace
• 教会 – Kyōkai – Church
• 会堂 – Kaidō – Synagogue; chapel; church; tabernacle
• 議会 – Gikai – Congress; parliament
• 会館 – Kaikan – Meeting room
• 都会 – Tokai – City
• 学会 – Gakai – Academy, Society

社会 (Shakai) means society, but if we simply reverse the kanji, we create 会社 (Kaisha) which means company or business.

Example Sentences

• 会を脱退する – Kai o dattai suru – He will leave the meeting
• 会を抜ける – kai o nukeru – To leave the Club
• 来月お会いしましょう. – Raigetsu o ai shimashou. – See you next month.
• 明日会社でね – Ashita kaishade ne – See you tomorrow at the office.

The best way to memorize kanji is to read as much content as possible. We recommend creating sentences using the verb 会う or some of the words examined in this article. As an exercise, you can comment a sentence to help yourself and other students.