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獄
“Prison / Jail” in Japanese is 獄, read goku (ごく). It is a Jōyō kanji taught in Japanese secondary school (junior & senior high) — the 高手 · Master tier beyond the grade 1–6 Kyōiku set, and appears in words such as 地獄 (hell).
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What does 獄 mean?
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Full details, readings & example
| Kanji | 獄 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | Prison / Jail |
| Readings | ごく |
| Grade | Master (高手 · secondary school) |
| Curriculum | Jōyō kanji · Japanese secondary school (JLPT N1–N2) |
| Example | 地獄 (hell) |
How to read 獄
獄 is read goku (ごく) depending on the word.
Words with 獄
- 地獄
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Kanji read the same way as 獄
Same sound, different character — the classic trap. Compare them side by side:
Updated: 2026-08-28