To Explain

July 14, 2010

"To Explain" in kanji. Japanese calligraphy art by Nao.

"To Explain" by Nao

to-ku, setsu

The verb “toku” is a written expression meaning to explain, to persuade, or to preach.

Since there is another verb “toku” with another character meaning “to solve,” the word “toku” can be ambiguous. When you want to mean “to explain” explicitly, use the verb “setsumei suru.”

Similarly, to persuade is “settokusuru,” and to preach is “sekkyōsuru.” In the former word, “settoku” is the combination of today’s character and toku, meaning to obtain; in the latter word, “sekkyō” is the combination of today’s character and kyō, meaning to teach.

A legend is densetsu. The adjectival word densetsutekina means legendary. It accompanies a noun.

A novel is shōsetsu. You can read or write shōsetsu, so it becomes the object of verbs yomu (to read) and kaku (to write).


Draw the left-hand side of the character, first.

The kanji for "To Explain" with the stroke order and arrows showing directions.

  1. Draw the dot on the top.
  2. Draw the horizontal stroke.
  3. Draw the horizontal stroke below the previous stroke.
  4. Draw the horizontal stroke above the rectangle.
  5. Draw the left side of rectangle.
  6. Draw the upper and right sides of the rectangle.
  7. Draw the lower side of the rectangle.
  8. Begin to draw the right-hand side. Draw the dot on the top.
  9. Draw the sweeping dot.
  10. Draw the left side of the rectangle.
  11. Draw the upper and right sides of the rectangle.
  12. Draw the lower side of the rectangle.
  13. Draw the sweeping stroke.
  14. Draw the curve with an upward turn.

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