Kanji

What does the kanji 昔 mean?

昔 means old times, the past. On'yomi セキ、シャク. Kun'yomi むかし.

Quick facts
On'yomiセキ、シャク
Kun'yomiむかし
Strokes8
Main radical日
Level (estimated, JLPT framework)N3
On'yomi セキ、シャクKun'yomi むかし
N3 · estimated, JLPT framework8 strokes

old times, the past

Memory hook

Layers of time stacked over the sun (日) — LONG AGO, OLD TIMES.

Stroke order · 8 strokes

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8

Common words

  • 昔むかしthe past, long ago

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Data sources and licences

English meanings, On/Kun readings, stroke counts: KANJIDIC2 — Electronic Dictionary Research and Development Group (EDRDG), licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Components: KRADFILE (EDRDG). Stroke order: KanjiVG (Ulrich Apel), licensed CC BY-SA 3.0. Mnemonics written by GoMe.

Voice: VOICEVOX Nemo.

N5–N1 levels on this page are estimates based on the JLPT framework, drawn from community benchmarks. GoMe Nihongo is not affiliated with the Japan Foundation or JEES, which administer the JLPT.