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Kotomora

在

exist, outskirts, suburbs, located in

JLPTN3StatusJōyō · grade 5FrequencyTop 500Strokes6

Readings

On'yomi

  • ザイ

Kun'yomi

  • あ.る

Nanori

  • あり

Meaning

在 centers on being present in a place or state: existing, being located somewhere, or being in the outskirts/suburbs of a city.

Most common words using 在

24 of 340
  • 存在そんざい
    N3

    existence; being; presence

  • 現在げんざい
    N3

    the present; present time; now

  • 滞在たいざい
    N3

    stay; sojourn

  • 在庫ざいこ
    N1

    stock; inventory

  • 在日ざいにち
    N1

    resident in Japan (of a foreigner); situated in Japan (e.g. of an embassy)

  • 在住ざいじゅう

    residing; living; dwelling

  • 実在じつざい
    N1

    actual existence; real existence; existing in real life

  • 在籍ざいせき
    N1

    being enrolled (at a school); being registered; being a member (of a team, organization, etc.)

  • 潜在せんざい
    N1

    potentiality; dormancy; latency

  • 不在ふざい
    N1

    absence

  • 所在しょざい
    N1

    location (of); position; whereabouts; place where one is

  • 所在地しょざいち

    location; address

  • 在宅ざいたく

    being at home; being in

  • 自在じざい
    N1

    being able to do as one pleases; doing at will

  • 健在けんざい
    N1

    in good health; alive and well; going strong

  • 在学ざいがく
    N2

    attending (school, college, etc.); being enrolled; being a student

  • 在来ざいらい

    pre-existing; already there; conventional

  • 在留ざいりゅう
    N1

    residing (esp. abroad); staying; living

  • 点在てんざい

    being dotted about; being scattered; being interspersed

  • 駐在ちゅうざい

    residence; stay; (job) posting; being stationed (overseas, etc.)

  • 顕在けんざい

    being actual (as opposed to hidden or latent); being apparent; being obvious; being tangible; being revealed

  • 在職ざいしょく

    being in office; holding a position; employment; service

  • 介在かいざい

    existing (between); interposition; intervention; involvement

  • 在任ざいにん

    being in office

Explore all words using 在 →

Study

Etymology

在 combines 才 (a phonetic element suggesting presence) with 土 (earth/ground), together conveying the idea of existing or being situated in a place.

Meaning mnemonic

The top-left part looks like a simplified person or marker, and the bottom 土 is the ground. Picture a person standing on the earth, marking where they exist.

Reading mnemonic

For ザイ, imagine a sign saying 'I exist here' written in bold, like a 'ZAI' stamp on the ground: ZAI -> ザイ.