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Kotomora

次

next, order, sequence

JLPTN3StatusJōyō · grade 3FrequencyTop 500Strokes6

Readings

On'yomi

  • ジ
  • シ

Kun'yomi

  • つ.ぐ
  • つぎ

Nanori

  • き
  • すき
  • つぐ
  • よし

Meaning

次 centers on the idea of what comes after or in a sequence: the next thing, an order, or a step in a series.

Most common words using 次

24 of 350
  • 次つぎ
    N5

    next; following; subsequent

  • 次第しだい
    N3

    depending on

  • 次元じげん
    N1

    dimension

  • 次回じかい
    N3

    next time (occasion)

  • 次々つぎつぎ
    N3

    in succession; one by one

  • 次第にしだいに
    N2

    gradually; by degrees; little by little; bit by bit

  • 順次じゅんじ

    in order; sequential; seriatim

  • 次男じなん
    N3

    second son

  • 次期じき

    next term; next period

  • 次いでついで
    N1

    next; secondly; subsequently

  • 次ぐつぐ
    N2

    to follow; to come after; to come next (to); to rank next (to); to rank second (to)

  • 次長じちょう
    N1

    vice-chief; vice-director; assistant director; deputy manager

  • 次女じじょ
    N3

    second daughter

  • 相次ぐあいつぐ
    N2

    to follow in succession; to happen one after another

  • 目次もくじ
    N2

    table of contents; contents

  • 年次ねんじ

    annual; yearly

  • 次官じかん

    vice-minister; undersecretary

  • 事務次官じむじかん

    permanent vice-president; undersecretary; vice-minister

  • 次点じてん

    runner-up

  • 二の次にのつぎ
    N1

    secondary; of secondary importance

  • 次席じせき

    associate; junior; assistant; next in rank; runner-up

  • 次代じだい

    the next era

  • 取次ぎとりつぎ

    agency; agent; intermediation; distributor

  • 逐次ちくじ

    successively; one after another; sequentially; one by one

Explore all words using 次 →

Study

Etymology

次 combines 冫 (a simplified form related to ice or order) with 欠 (open mouth or lack), but the exact historical development is uncertain. It is often explained as representing a sequence or order, possibly from the idea of arranging or piling up.

Meaning mnemonic

The left side 冫 looks like two strokes in order, and the right side 欠 suggests something incomplete. Together, they show the next step in a sequence: 次 is what comes next.

Reading mnemonic

For ジ, imagine a line of people waiting for the next bus, and the bus is marked with a big letter G: G -> ジ, and the next person steps forward.