Recognize 医 in 医者 and 医学. Connect each word’s reading with its meaning in context.

The idea

医 has 7 strokes; follow the linked KanjiVG diagram for their order. Read 医者（いしゃ） and 医学（いがく） as whole words: a kanji’s reading depends on the word.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample in context
医者いしゃI told the doctor about my fever.
医学いがくI study medicine at university.
医院いいんI go to a nearby clinic.

Examples

  • 医者いしゃに熱ねつのことを伝つたえました。I told the doctor about my fever.
  • 医者いしゃの説明せつめいを聞ききます。I listen to the doctor’s explanation.
  • 大学だいがくで医学いがくを学まなびます。I study medicine at university.
  • 医学いがくの本ほんを読よみます。I read a book about medicine.
  • 近ちかくの医院いいんに行いきます。I go to a nearby clinic.
  • その医院いいんは日曜日にちようびに休やすみです。That clinic is closed on Sundays.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

医者 is a person, 医学 is the field of medicine, and 医院 is a clinic. Do not assume that every word containing 医 has the same meaning or reading. Compare 医 with 区; pay attention to 矢 when distinguishing their shapes.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 医者 in hiragana.

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    いしゃ

    医者 is read いしゃ. In context: I told the doctor about my fever.

  2. Write the reading of 医学 in hiragana.

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    いがく

    医学 is read いがく. In context: I study medicine at university.

  3. Write the missing kanji: ＿院（いいん）［医／区］.

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    医

    医 completes 医院, read いいん. In context: I go to a nearby clinic.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 医 from memory and read 医者 and 医学 aloud. Check your readings against the examples.