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JLPT N114画 · 14 strokesradical 阜grade 5freq #183

occasion, side, edge, verge

Also: dangerous, adventurous, indecent, time, when

On'yomi (音読み)

  • サイ

Kun'yomi (訓読み)

  • きわ
  • -ぎわ

Mnemonic

At the edge of the mountain (阜), I found a sudden occasion (際) where the sky met the earth, dazzling in its beauty.

About this kanji

The kanji 際 (さい) primarily means 'occasion' or 'side' and is used both as a noun and a part of verbs. You’ll often find it in compounds like 国際 (こくさい), which means 'international,' highlighting its use in context like international relations. Another example is 実際 (じっさい), meaning 'reality,' which refers to the actual circumstances of a situation. A common expression is 間際 (まぎわ), signifying the moment just before an event occurs. It’s worth noting that while 際 can refer to physical edges or boundaries, it’s often more used to describe abstract occasions or circumstances.

Example sentences

  • この際、全てをリセットしましょう。

    In this case, let's reset everything.

Meanings across languages

English
occasion, side, edge, verge, dangerous, adventurous, indecent, time, when
Tiếng Việt
dịp, bên, mép, bờ, nguy hiểm, mạo hiểm, không đứng đắn, thời gian, khi
日本語
場合, 側面, 端, 縁, 危険な, 冒険的な, 不適切な, 時間, いつ
한국어
경우, 측면, 가장자리, 변두리, 위험한, 모험적인, 부적절한, 시간, 언제
中文
场合, 侧, 边缘, 边, 危险, 冒险, 不当, 时间, 何时
id
kesempatan, sisi, tepi
th
โอกาส, ด้าน, ขอบ
es
ocasión, lado, borde
fr
occasion, côté, bord
de
Gelegenheit, Seite, Rand
pt
ocasião, lado, borda

Common compounds

  • 国際こくさいinternational, diplomatic intercourse
  • 実際じっさいreality, actuality, truth
  • 国際化こくさいかinternationalization, internationalisation
  • 国際的こくさいてきinternational, worldwide, cross-border
  • 間際まぎわthe point just before ..., the point of (doing), the verge (of)
  • 交際こうさいcompany, friendship, association
  • 際限さいげんlimits, end, bounds
  • 手際てぎわskill, ability, dexterity

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