Back to dictionary
JLPT N117画 · 17 strokesradical 言grade 5freq #1028

apologize, thank, refuse

On'yomi (音読み)

  • シャ

Kun'yomi (訓読み)

  • あやま.る

Mnemonic

With a heavy heart, I must apologize by saying 'thank you' and 'no' at the same time, as words echo my regret.

About this kanji

The kanji「謝」primarily means to apologize, but it can also mean to thank or to refuse. It is often used as a noun and a verb, with the verb form being「謝る」(あやまる), meaning to apologize. Some common compounds include「感謝」(かんしゃ), which means thanks, and「謝罪」(しゃざい), meaning an apology. You might also encounter「謝礼」(しゃれい), referring to a reward for someone’s help, or「月謝」(げっしゃ), which is a monthly tuition fee. A usage note: this kanji conveys not only an act of expressing regret but also gratitude, making it quite versatile in conversations.

Example sentences

  • 彼に謝罪の言葉を述べた。

    I expressed my apologies to him.

Meanings across languages

English
apologize, thank, refuse
Tiếng Việt
xin lỗi
日本語
謝る
한국어
사과하다
中文
道歉
id
minta maaf, mengucapkan terima kasih, menolak
th
ขอโทษ, ขอบคุณ, ปฏิเสธ
es
disculparse, agradecer, rechazar
fr
s'excuser, remercier, refuser
de
entschuldigen, danke, verweigern
pt
pedir desculpa, agradecer, recusar

Common compounds

  • 感謝かんしゃthanks, gratitude, appreciation
  • 謝罪しゃざいapology
  • 謝礼しゃれいreward, honorarium, remuneration
  • 月謝げっしゃmonthly tuition fee
  • 謝るあやまるto apologize (apologise), to refuse, to decline
  • 謝意しゃいgratitude, thanks, apology
  • 代謝たいしゃmetabolism, renewal, regeneration
  • 陳謝ちんしゃapology

Want to actually learn this kanji?

The dictionary is one view. The Kanji 360 app wraps every character with mnemonic images, audio readings, stroke-order animation, story context, and SRS scheduling — free to start on iPhone, iPad, and Android.