弔
KANJI DETAIL
mourn
On readingちょう4 strokesN2
Radical 弓 · bowStroke order
Loading the stroke order for 弔.
Japanese readings
- On reading
- ちょう
- Kun reading
- とむらう
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure: 弔 has 4 strokes, the on-reading ちょう, and the kun-reading とむらう. Its sense of mourning appears in 弔問 (ちょうもん) and 弔辞 (ちょうじ).
- Basic usage: 弔問 means a visit to offer condolences to the bereaved; 弔辞 means a funeral address or eulogy honoring the deceased.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- A condolence visit and a eulogy
- 弔問に訪れ describes visiting to pay one's respects. The example concerns a visit to a former teacher's home to offer condolences to the family.
- 弔辞を読んだ means read a eulogy. 弔辞 is the address read by a friend of the deceased at the funeral in the example.

