explain / release

N1
Onyomi
Stroke count
11
JLPT
N1

Mnemonic

A clean, flat study card showing the kanji 釈, meaning "explain", on a soft background.

釈 means "explain / release". Its on'yomi シャク. To remember it, picture "explain" every time you see 釈, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.

Stroke Order

Stroke count: 11

  1. 1Write from top to bottom.
  2. 2Write from left to right.
  3. 3Write horizontal strokes before the vertical strokes that cross them.
  4. 4Draw an outer enclosure first, then fill in what is inside.
  5. 5In symmetric shapes, write the centre before the left and right sides.
  6. 6This kanji has 11 strokes — trace them in order in the practice area below.

Step by step

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11

Stroke-order data: KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Practice Writing

Trace the faded character with your mouse or finger. Hide the outline to test yourself.

Writing Tips

  • Follow the order strictly: top-to-bottom and left-to-right. Correct order makes the shape balanced and natural.
  • Keep each stroke in one smooth motion — don't lift the pen in the middle of a stroke.
  • Close enclosing strokes cleanly so the character does not look open or broken.
  • Common mistake: drawing strokes bottom-to-top or right-to-left. Even if the result looks similar, the wrong order shows in handwriting and makes it harder to read.

Example words

Example sentences (6)

shakuhou wa totemo taisetsu desu.

The release (from custody) is very important.

mainichi shakumeikaiken o tsukaimasu.

I use the press conference of explanation every day.

shakuzen no imi o shirabemashita.

I looked up the meaning of "being satisfied (explanation)".

kore wa atarashii kaishaku desu.

This is a new interpretation.

shakumei ni tsuite hanashimashita.

We talked about the explanation (of conduct).

sensei ga kaishakushita o setsumei shimashita.

The teacher explained the plain past: did interpretation.

Related kanji