Kanji

What does the kanji 書 mean?

書 means to write; book, document. On'yomi ショ. Kun'yomi か.く、-が.き、-がき.

Quick facts
On'yomiショ
Kun'yomiか.く、-が.き、-がき
Strokes10
Main radical曰
Level (estimated, JLPT framework)N5
On'yomi ショKun'yomi か.く、-が.き、-がき
N5 · estimated, JLPT framework10 strokes

to write; book, document

Memory hook

A brush (聿) putting marks down over the day (日) — WRITE.

Stroke order · 10 strokes

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10

Common words

More words with this kanji

  • 図書としょbooks, publications
  • 書斎しょさいstudy, den (a room for reading or working)
  • 書物しょもつbooks
  • 書類しょるいdocuments, papers
  • 読書どくしょreading (books)
  • 手書きてがきhandwriting, handwritten
  • 教科書きょうかしょtextbook
  • 投書とうしょletter to the editor, reader's contribution
  • 書店しょてんbookstore
  • 書留かきとめregistered mail; to make a note of
  • 書籍しょせきbooks, publications
  • 書道しょどうcalligraphy
  • 清書せいしょfair copy, clean copy
  • 書き換えるかきかえるto rewrite, to revise
  • 書取かきとりdictation, transcription
  • 原書げんしょoriginal text; book in the original language
  • 文書ぶんしょdocument
  • 書評しょひょうbook review
  • 書面しょめんdocument, in writing (a written reply or report)
  • 秘書ひしょsecretary
  • 聖書せいしょthe Bible
  • 著書ちょしょa written work, one's book, publication
  • 願書がんしょapplication form
  • 書き取るかきとるto take dictation, to write down

Look up another word →

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.