Explore 靴 in everyday footwear words and learn each reading in context.
The idea
靴 has 13 strokes; follow the linked diagram. 靴（くつ） means shoes, 靴下（くつした） socks, and 革靴（かわぐつ） leather shoes. Learn the readings as whole words.
| Japanese word | Reading | Example in context |
|---|---|---|
| 靴 | くつ | I bought new shoes. |
| 靴下 | くつした | I wear socks. |
| 革靴 | かわぐつ | My leather shoes got wet in the rain. |
Examples
- 新しい靴を買いました。I bought new shoes.
- 玄関で靴を脱いでください。Please take off your shoes at the entrance.
- この靴は歩きやすいです。These shoes are easy to walk in.
- 靴下をはいています。I wear socks.
- 革靴が雨で濡れました。My leather shoes got wet in the rain.
- 毎週靴を磨きます。I clean my shoes every week.
Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.
No Japanese device voice is available. You can still read the text and use the linked listening resources.
Watch out
靴下 means socks, not the lower part of a shoe. In 革靴, くつ becomes ぐつ; the sound changes in this compound.
Try it yourself
Write the reading of 靴 in hiragana.
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くつ
靴 is read くつ, as in 新しい靴, new shoes.
Write the reading of 靴下 in hiragana.
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くつした
靴下 is read くつした and means socks; 下 is read した here.
Choose the missing kanji: 革＿（かわぐつ）［靴／鞄］.
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靴
靴 completes 革靴（かわぐつ）, leather shoes. Its reading changes to ぐつ in this compound.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
Write the reading of 靴 in hiragana.
Write the reading of 靴下 in hiragana.
Choose the missing kanji: 革＿（かわぐつ）［靴／鞄］.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Write 靴 with the diagram, then cover the table and read 靴下 and 革靴. Make a sentence about your footwear.