Japanese kanji 書: to write

The idea

書 has 10 strokes. Follow the order in the linked KanjiVG diagram. Compare 書く（かく）, “to write”, with 図書館（としょかん）, “library”. A character may be read differently from word to word; learn each word as a unit.

Examples

• 手紙てがみを書かきます。I write a letter.
• 図書館としょかんで本ほんを読よみます。I read books at the library.
• ここにお名前なまえを書かいてください。Please write your name here.
• 住所じゅうしょをここに書かきます。I write the address here.
• 教科書きょうかしょを開ひらいてください。Please open your textbook.
• 書店しょてんで本ほんを買かいます。I buy a book at a bookshop.

Watch out

書く means write; 描く（かく） is used for drawing pictures. Compare the shape of 書 with 昼; notice how their components differ.

Try it yourself

1. Write the reading of 書く (to write) in hiragana.

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   かく

   書く is read かく and means “to write”. Remember the reading as part of the whole word.

2. Write the reading of 図書館 (library) in hiragana.

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   としょかん

   図書館 is read としょかん and means “library”. Remember the reading as part of the whole word.

3. Fill in the missing kanji: 教科＿（きょうかしょ）.

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   書

   書 completes 教科書（きょうかしょ）, meaning “textbook”.

4. Which word means “library”? Write the whole word using kanji: 図書館 or 書店.

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   図書館

   図書館 is read としょかん and means “library”. Remember the reading as part of the whole word. 書店 instead means “bookshop”.

Use it today

Write 書 three times following the linked stroke diagram. Cover the table, read 書く and 図書館 aloud, and then check their readings and meanings.