2
位
Rank, Position
くらい (kurai)
JLPT N3
Interesting Fact
🏯 The architecture of Japanese castles and formal residences often reflected hierarchy. Important rooms were arranged so that the most prestigious positions were physically distinguished from areas for lower-ranking guests or servants. In traditional shoin architecture, features such as the raised tokonoma helped establish the formal status of a room. Where you sat wasn't random—it could silently tell everyone who mattered most in the room.
Memory Trick
👤 A person(亻) stands(立) exactly in their assigned spot—your position is 位!
Readings
Onyomi: イ (i)
Kunyomi: くらい (kurai)
Example Words
地位
ちい (chii)
Status
順位
じゅんい (jun'i)
Ranking
一位
いちい (ichi'i)
First place
単位
たんい (tan'i)
Unit
Example Sentence
彼は一位になりました。
かれは いちい に なりました。
kare wa ichi'i ni narimashita
He came in first place.