Japanese kanji 作: make; create

The idea

Kanji can have Japanese-origin readings (kun) and readings borrowed through Chinese (on). Compare 作る (つくる) and 作品 (さくひん). 作 has 7 strokes; follow the linked KanjiVG diagram for their order.

Examples

• 夕飯ゆうはんにカレーを作つくります。I will make curry for dinner.
• 母ははが朝あさご飯はんを作つくっています。My mother is making breakfast.
• 美術館びじゅつかんで作品さくひんを見みました。I saw the work at the art museum.
• この作品さくひんが大好だいすきです。I love this work.
• 作文さくぶんを先生せんせいに見みせます。I show my composition to my teacher.
• 日本語にほんごで短みじかい作文さくぶんを書かきました。I wrote a short composition in Japanese.

Watch out

作る (つくる) means make; create; 作品 (さくひん) means creative work. Learn the reading with the whole word. 作る covers making food as well as creating things; 作品 is a finished creative work. Compare the indicated parts of 作 and 使: 乍 and 吏.

Try it yourself

1. Write the reading of 作る in hiragana.

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   つくる

   作る is read つくる and means make; create. Remember the reading of the whole word.

2. Write the reading of 作品 in hiragana.

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   さくひん

   作品 is read さくひん and means creative work. Remember the reading of the whole word.

3. Fill in the missing kanji: ＿文（さくぶん）.

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   作

   作 completes 作文, read さくぶん; the completed word means composition; essay.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 作 from memory, and read 作る and 作品 aloud. Check their readings and meanings.