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罪
“crime / sin” in Japanese is 罪, read zai, tsumi (ざい, つみ). It is a Grade 5 Kyōiku kanji, taught in year 5 of Japanese elementary school, and appears in words such as 犯罪 (crime).
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What does 罪 mean?
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うそをつくのは罪だ。
うそをつくのはつみだ。Telling a lie is a sin.
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Full details, readings & example
| Kanji | 罪 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | crime / sin |
| Readings | ざい, つみ |
| Grade | Grade 5 (Hard) |
| Curriculum | Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school |
| Example | 犯罪 (crime) |
How to read 罪
罪 is read zai (ざい) or tsumi (つみ) depending on the word.
Words with 罪
- 犯罪
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Updated: 2026-08-28