Meet 徒 in words for students and walking, then compare a related word for an apprentice.

The idea

徒 has 10 strokes. Follow the linked diagram. In 生徒（せいと） and 徒歩（とほ）, 徒 is read と; learn each reading with its whole word. 弟子（でし） also means a learner, but has no 徒.

Patterns to compare
WordReadingMeaning
生徒せいとstudent
徒歩とほon foot
弟子でしapprentice

Examples

  • この学校がっこうには生徒せいとが多おおいです。This school has many students.
  • 生徒せいとたちは先生せんせいに質問しつもんしました。The students asked the teacher a question.
  • 駅えきから徒歩とほで十分じゅっぷんです。It is ten minutes on foot from the station.
  • 今日きょうは徒歩とほで会社かいしゃに行いきます。Today I am going to work on foot.
  • 弟子でしは師匠ししょうから技わざを学まなびます。The apprentice learns skills from the master.
  • 彼かれは陶芸家とうげいかの弟子でしです。He is an apprentice to a ceramic artist.

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

Watch out

生徒 is a school pupil; 徒歩 means on foot, not a person. 弟子 is an apprentice under a master, not the usual word for a school pupil.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 生徒 in hiragana.

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    せいと

    生徒 is せいと: it refers to a pupil. Remember と as part of the whole word.

  2. Write the reading of 徒歩 in hiragana.

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    とほ

    徒歩 is とほ: 徒歩で means on foot. Read both characters together.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: 生＿（せいと）［徒／歩］.

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    徒

    徒 completes 生徒（せいと）, a pupil; 歩 instead belongs to 徒歩.

Use it today

Write 徒 following the diagram. Cover the table, read 生徒 and 徒歩, and make a sentence using one.