Japanese kanji 物: thing; object

The idea

Kanji can have Japanese-origin readings (kun) and readings borrowed through Chinese (on). Compare 物 (もの) and 買い物 (かいもの). 物 has 8 strokes; follow the linked KanjiVG diagram for their order.

Examples

• その物ものを見みせてください。Please show me that thing.
• 古ふるい物ものを捨すてます。I throw away old things.
• 母ははと買かい物ものに行いきます。I go shopping with my mother.
• 買かい物ものはもう終おわりました。I have already finished shopping.
• 好すきな食たべ物ものは何なんですか。What food do you like?
• この店みせに食たべ物ものがあります。There is food in this shop.

Watch out

物 (もの) means thing; object; 買い物 (かいもの) means shopping. Learn the reading with the whole word. 物 often refers to a thing or object; 事 often concerns an event or matter. Compare the indicated parts of 物 and 牧: 勿 and 攵.

Try it yourself

1. Write the reading of 物 in hiragana.

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   もの

   物 is read もの and means thing; object. Remember the reading of the whole word.

2. Write the reading of 買い物 in hiragana.

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   かいもの

   買い物 is read かいもの and means shopping. Remember the reading of the whole word.

3. Fill in the missing kanji: 食べ＿（たべもの）.

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   物

   物 completes 食べ物, read たべもの; the completed word means food.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 物 from memory, and read 物 and 買い物 aloud. Check their readings and meanings.