What is the difference between "貼る" and "張る"?

"貼る" means "to stick, to paste, to put up" (N4), whereas "張る" represents "to stick, to paste, to stretch, to spread" (N3).

Kanji Homophone Battle

Pronunciation Trap: "はる (haru)"

Same sound, completely different Kanji! Choose the right conceptual writing.

Kanji Option A

はる (haru)

N4 / CEFR

Kanji Option B

はる (haru)

N3 / CEFR

In Japanese, many words share the exact same pronunciation "はる (haru)" but are written with different Kanji, changing the meaning entirely.

貼る (Level: N4): Translates to "to stick, to paste, to put up" and is used when Used for attaching flat objects like stickers, stamps, posters, or tape to a surface..
張る (Level: N3): Maps to "to stick, to paste, to stretch, to spread" and carries the nuance of 物を表面に貼り付ける、紐などをピンと伸ばす、テントなどを設置するなど、様々な意味で使われる動詞です。.

Mixing these up can easily result in unnatural writing. Look at the bilingual context cards below to master the conceptual boundaries!

Bilingual Context for "貼る"

壁にポスターを貼ります。

I will put a poster on the wall.

Bilingual Context for "張る"

壁に新しいカレンダーを張った。

I put up a new calendar on the wall.

Which Kanji perfectly fits this blank space?

Which Kanji perfectly fits the blank: "壁にポスターを貼ります。" (Meaning: "I will put a poster on the wall.")

🎉 Correct Answer!

Correct! "貼る" is used for "to stick, to paste, to put up" in the context: "I will put a poster on the wall.".