Japanese kanji 内: inside; inner side

The idea

内 has 4 strokes. Follow the order in the linked KanjiVG diagram. Compare 内側（うちがわ）, “inside; inner side”, with 国内（こくない）, “within the country; domestic”. A character may be read differently from word to word; learn each word as a unit.

Examples

• 箱はこの内側うちがわを見みます。I look at the inside of the box.
• 室内しつないはとても静しずかです。It is very quiet indoors.
• 私わたしは国内こくないを旅行りょこうします。I travel within the country.
• ドアの内側うちがわに鍵かぎがあります。There is a lock on the inside of the door.
• 病院びょういんの内科ないかへ行いきます。I go to the hospital’s internal medicine department.
• 室内しつないで犬いぬと遊あそびます。I play with the dog indoors.

Watch out

内側 is the inner side; 中（なか） is a common word for the inside in general. Compare the shape of 内 with 肉; notice how their components differ.

Try it yourself

1. Write the reading of 内側 (inside; inner side) in hiragana.

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   うちがわ

   内側 is read うちがわ and means “inside; inner side”. Remember the reading as part of the whole word.

2. Write the reading of 国内 (within the country; domestic) in hiragana.

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   こくない

   国内 is read こくない and means “within the country; domestic”. Remember the reading as part of the whole word.

3. Fill in the missing kanji: 室＿（しつない）.

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   内

   内 completes 室内（しつない）, meaning “indoors; inside a room”.

4. Which word means “inside; inner side”? Write the whole word using kanji: 内側 or 国内.

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   内側

   内側 is read うちがわ and means “inside; inner side”. Remember the reading as part of the whole word. 国内 instead means “within the country; domestic”.

Use it today

Write 内 three times following the linked stroke diagram. Cover the table, read 内側 and 国内 aloud, and then check their readings and meanings.