Recognize 生 in everyday Japanese. Start with its meaning, life; birth, then learn to read it in whole words such as 生まれる and 学生.

The idea

Kanji may have Japanese-origin and Chinese-origin readings; learn each with its word. Compare 生まれる（うまれる） and 学生（がくせい）. 生 has 5 strokes; follow their order in the linked KanjiVG diagram.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingMeaning
生まれるうまれるto be born
学生がくせいstudent
先生せんせいteacher

Examples

  • 母ははは日本にほんで生うまれました。My mother was born in Japan.
  • 先生せんせいは午後ごごに本ほんを読よみます。The teacher reads a book in the afternoon.
  • 学生がくせいは本ほんを読よみます。The student reads a book.
  • 母ははも先生せんせいです。My mother is also a teacher.
  • 私わたしは学生がくせいです。I am a student.
  • 先生せんせいに手紙てがみを書かきます。I write a letter to the teacher.

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

Watch out

生まれる means to be born; 生 in 学生 and 先生 is read せい. Compare the shape of 生 with 土 so you do not confuse them.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 生まれる in hiragana.

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    うまれる

    生まれる is read うまれる; it means to be born. Learn the reading as part of this word.

  2. Write the reading of 学生 in hiragana.

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    がくせい

    学生 is read がくせい; it means student. Learn the reading as part of this word.

  3. Fill in the missing kanji: 学＿（がくせい）.

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    生

    生 completes 学生, read がくせい; the word means student.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 生 from memory, and read 生まれる and 学生 aloud. Then check the readings and meanings.