Kanji
Kanji Foundations: Everyday actions
日常動作の漢字
Elementary
~35 min
~35 min
I can recognise five essential action kanji inside familiar verbs.
Can-do goal
I can recognise five essential action kanji inside familiar verbs.
Learn kanji through words
Notice the shape and core meaning, then learn the reading used in the example word. A kanji may have other readings later.
| Kanji | Strokes | Target reading | Core meaning | Example word | Shape cue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 食 | 9 | た | eat | 食べます たべます — eat | A lid covers gathered food. |
| 飲 | 12 | の | drink | 水を飲みます みずをのみます — drink water | The food radical combines with 欠. |
| 見 | 7 | み | see / look | 見ます みます — see / watch | An eye 目 stands on legs. |
| 聞 | 14 | き | hear / ask | 聞きます ききます — listen / ask | An ear 耳 listens inside a gate. |
| 読 | 14 | よ | read | 本を読みます ほんをよみます — read a book | The speech radical introduces written language. |
Practice sequence
- Say the example word.
- Identify the kanji inside it.
- Recall its core meaning.
- Type the character from memory.
- Review again on a later day.
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