Explore 吸 in everyday actions and compounds. Learn each reading together with its word.

The idea

吸 has 6 strokes. 吸う is read すう; compounds such as 呼吸 and 吸収 use きゅう. Follow the linked stroke diagram and use the table to compare words.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample in context
吸うすうI breathe in fresh air.
呼吸こきゅうTake a deep breath.
吸収きゅうしゅうPlants absorb water through their roots.
吸い取るすいとるThe vacuum cleaner sucks up dust.

Examples

  • 新鮮しんせんな空気くうきを吸すいます。I breathe in fresh air.
  • 赤あかちゃんはストローでミルクを吸すいます。The baby sucks milk through a straw.
  • 父ちちはたばこを吸すいません。My father does not smoke.
  • 深ふかい呼吸こきゅうをしてください。Take a deep breath.
  • 植物しょくぶつは根ねから水みずを吸収きゅうしゅうします。Plants absorb water through their roots.
  • 掃除機そうじきはほこりを吸すい取とります。The vacuum cleaner sucks up dust.

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

Watch out

吸う can mean inhale, suck or smoke depending on its object. 吸収 means absorption, not breathing; do not apply すう to every compound.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 吸う in hiragana.

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    すう

    吸う is すう: 空気を吸う means to breathe in air.

  2. Write the reading of 呼吸 in hiragana.

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    こきゅう

    呼吸 is こきゅう: 深い呼吸 means a deep breath.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: ＿収（きゅうしゅう）［吸／呼］.

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    吸

    吸 completes 吸収（きゅうしゅう）, absorption; plants absorb water.

Use it today

Write 吸 following the diagram, cover the table, then read 吸う and 呼吸 and make a sentence.