Recognize 木 in everyday Japanese, learn its meanings (tree and wood) and read it as part of complete words.

The idea

A kanji can have Japanese-origin readings (kun) and readings borrowed through Chinese (on); learn each reading with its word. Compare 木（き） and 木曜日（もくようび） in the table. 木 has 4 strokes; follow their order in the linked KanjiVG diagram.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingMeaning
木きtree; wood
木曜日もくようびThursday
木の下きのしたunder a tree
木のいすきのいすwooden chair

Examples

  • あの木きは大おおきいです。That tree is big.
  • 木曜日もくようびに図書館としょかんへ行いきます。I go to the library on Thursday.
  • 木きの下したで休やすみます。I rest under a tree.
  • 木きのいすがあります。There is a wooden chair.
  • この木きに鳥とりがいます。There is a bird in this tree.
  • 公園こうえんに木きがたくさんあります。There are many trees in the park.

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

Watch out

木 is き for a tree or wood; 木曜日 begins with もく. Compare 木 with 本, which adds a short line across the lower stem.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 木 in hiragana.

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    き

    木 is read き; the whole expression means tree; wood. 木 is used here as a word on its own.

  2. Write the reading of 木曜日 in hiragana.

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    もくようび

    木曜日 is read もくようび; the whole expression means Thursday. In this word 木 is read もく.

  3. Fill in the missing kanji: ＿曜日（もくようび）.

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    木

    木 completes 木曜日, which is read もくようび. The completed expression means Thursday.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 木 from memory, and read 木 and 木曜日 aloud. Then check both readings and meanings.