Japanese kanji 紙: paper and letters

The idea

紙 has 10 strokes; follow their order in the linked KanjiVG diagram. Read 紙（かみ） and 手紙（てがみ） as complete words: a character’s reading depends on the word.

Examples

• 白しろい紙かみに名前なまえを書かきます。I write my name on white paper.
• 友達ともだちに短みじかい手紙てがみを書かきます。I write a short letter to a friend.
• 長ながい手紙てがみをゆっくり読よみます。I read the long letter slowly.
• 白紙はくしを一枚いちまい、ください。One blank sheet of paper, please.
• 新聞紙しんぶんしを床ゆかに敷しきます。I spread newspaper on the floor.
• 紙かみを小ちいさく切きります。I cut the paper into small pieces.

Watch out

紙 is かみ on its own, but the sound changes to がみ in 手紙. 新聞紙 names newspaper as paper. Compare the shape of 紙 with 低.

Try it yourself

1. Write the reading of 紙 in hiragana.

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   かみ

   紙 is read かみ. In context: I write my name on white paper.

2. Write the reading of 手紙 in hiragana.

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   てがみ

   手紙 is read てがみ. In context: I write a short letter to a friend.

3. Complete the missing kanji: ＿（かみ）［紙／低］.

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   紙

   紙 completes 紙, read かみ. In context: I write my name on white paper.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 紙 from memory, and read 紙 and 手紙 aloud. Then check their readings and make a sentence.