Imagine a round ball rolling on the ground, perfectly smooth and without any edges. This ball represents the idea of completeness and perfection.
Frequency in JLPT exams
The kanji '丸' is an important character to know for the JLPT N2 level. It can appear in vocabulary and reading comprehension questions, as well as in writing sections, where understanding the stroke order is crucial.
Example Sentences
彼は赤い丸を描きました。
He drew a red circle.
かれはあかいまるをかきました。
kare wa akai maru o kakimashita.
彼は薬を飲むために錠剤を丸めた。
He crushed the pill to swallow the medicine.
かれはくすりをのむためにじょうざいをまるめた。
kare wa kusuri o nomu tame ni jouzai o marumeta.
その問題は難しくて、答えを丸々間違えました。
That problem was difficult and I completely got the answer wrong.
そのもんだいはむずかしくて、こたえをまるまるまちがえました。
sono mondai wa muzukashikute, kotae o marumaru machigaemashita.
Notes and Tips for JLPT students
The kanji '丸' is commonly used in everyday life and is essential to know for the JLPT N2.
In addition to its literal meaning of 'circle', '丸' is often used to express the concept of 'completeness' or 'perfection'.
Pay attention to the different readings and their contexts. For example, 'まる' is the kunyomi reading used for the literal meaning of 'circle', while 'まるめる' refers to the action of 'rolling up' or 'forming into a ball'.
Practice writing the kanji to remember its stroke order, as it may be required in the kanji writing section of the JLPT N2.
Usage in Japanese Names
The kanji '丸' is sometimes used in given names, often with meanings related to perfection or the idea of completeness.
For example, names like '丸山' (Maruyama) or '丸木' (Maruki) may contain this kanji.