Part 5: 休食飲気天雨春夏秋冬

休 : キュウ、やす(まる)、やす(む)、やす(める)

	Meaning: to rest Shape: 人(person) + 木(tree) Symbolizing a person resting by the tree. The left part is called "ninben" which is a modified form of 人. Unlike 人, the 2nd line is straight and vertical. The right part is 木. The shape is vertically long.

Meaning: to rest

Shape: 人(person) + 木(tree)

Symbolizing a person resting by the tree.
The left part is called "ninben" which is a modified form of 人. Unlike 人, the 2nd line is straight and vertical.
The right part is 木. The shape is vertically long.

Click button to see the stroke order animation.

Word	Reading	Meaning	Class

休む	やすむ	to rest, to have a break	v
一時間休みましょう。 Let's take a rest for an hour. 先週、会社を休みました。 I was absent from work last week.

休み	やすみ	day-off, holiday, break	n
休みは何よう日ですか。 Which day is the day off?

食 : ショク、ジキ、く(う)、く(らう)、た(べる)

	Meaning: to eat Shape: 人 + 良 The upper part is called "hitokanmuri" which is a modified form of 人. The 1st and the 2nd strokes start at the same point. The lower part is 良. Look closely how the last 3 strokes are drawn.

Meaning: to eat

Shape: 人 + 良

The upper part is called "hitokanmuri" which is a modified form of 人. The 1st and the 2nd strokes start at the same point.
The lower part is 良. Look closely how the last 3 strokes are drawn.

食べる	たべる	to eat	v
きのう、すし(寿司)を食べました。 I ate sushi yesterday.

食べ[物]	たべもの	food	n
にほん(日本)の食べ物は、おいしいですか。 Is Japanese food delicious?

食[堂]	しょくどう	dining room	n
食どうへ来てください。 Please come to the dining room.

飲 : イン、の(む)

	Meaning: to drink Shape: 食 + 欠 The left part is called "shokuhen" which is a modified form of 食. Note that it is 1 stroke less than 食. The right part is 欠. Note how the lines are tilted.

Meaning: to drink

Shape: 食 + 欠

The left part is called "shokuhen" which is a modified form of 食. Note that it is 1 stroke less than 食.
The right part is 欠. Note how the lines are tilted.

飲む	のむ	to drink	v
ビールを飲みませんか。 Why don't we drink beer? 今朝、くすりを飲みました。 I took the medicine this morning.

飲み[物]	のみもの	drink, beverage	n
つめたい飲みものを、かい(買い)ました。 I bought cold drinks.

気 : キ、ケ

	Meaning: Note the difference of the length of horizontal lines. Look closely how the 4th stroke is drawn. Inner part looks like Katakana メ.

Meaning:

Note the difference of the length of horizontal lines.
Look closely how the 4th stroke is drawn.
Inner part looks like Katakana メ.

[病]気	びょうき	disease, illness, sickness	n
かれは、先月からびょう気です。 He has been sick since last month.

[元]気	げんき	healthy, well, vigor	n, na-adj
げん気をだして(出して)ください。 (Please) cheer up!

天 : テン、あま、あめ

	Meaning: heaven, sky Shape: 一 + 大 Symbolizing higher area (一) above a person with unfurled arms (大). The 1st stroke is longer than the 2nd. The 1st and the 3rd strokes are just touching, not crossed. Don't mix up with 夫.

Meaning: heaven, sky

Shape: 一 + 大

Symbolizing higher area (一) above a person with unfurled arms (大).

The 1st stroke is longer than the 2nd.
The 1st and the 3rd strokes are just touching, not crossed.
Don't mix up with 夫.

天気	てんき	weather	n
今日は、天気がわるかった（悪かった）です。 The weather was bad today.

雨 : ウ、あま、あめ

	Meaning: rain The 1st and the 2nd strokes are not crossed. There should be enough inner space for four short lines. Tilt short lines properly.

Meaning: rain

The 1st and the 2nd strokes are not crossed.
There should be enough inner space for four short lines.
Tilt short lines properly.

雨	あめ	rain	n
夕方まで雨がふり(降り)ました。 It rained until evening.

春 : シュン、はる

	Meaning: spring season Shape: 三　+ 人 + 日 For the first 3 strokes (三), the 2nd one is shortest and the 3rd one is longest. The 4th and the 5th strokes (人) should be positioned properly to create a good balance of the whole structure.

Meaning: spring season

Shape: 三　+ 人 + 日

For the first 3 strokes (三), the 2nd one is shortest and the 3rd one is longest.
The 4th and the 5th strokes (人) should be positioned properly to create a good balance of the whole structure.

春	はる	spring season	n
春にさくら(桜)がさきます。 Cherry blossoms in spring.

夏 : カ、ゲ、なつ

	Meaning: summer Upper part looks like 百, but it has 1 more stroke. The lower part looks like 夕. Try to maintain a good balance (left & right) when you draw the last stroke.

Meaning: summer

Upper part looks like 百, but it has 1 more stroke.
The lower part looks like 夕. Try to maintain a good balance (left & right) when you draw the last stroke.

夏	なつ	summer	n
きょ年の夏は、とてもあつかった(暑かった)です。 Summer last year was very hot.

夏休み	なつやすみ	summer vacation	n
来年の夏休みにタイへ行きます。 I will go to Thailand during the summer vacation next year.

秋 : シュウ、あき

	Meaning: autumn, fall Shape: 禾 + 火 The left part is called "nogihen". The 5th stroke should be short. The right part is 火. The shape is vertically long.

Meaning: autumn, fall

Shape: 禾 + 火

The left part is called "nogihen". The 5th stroke should be short.
The right part is 火. The shape is vertically long.

秋	あき	autumn, fall	n
秋は、食べ物がおいしいです。 Foods are delicious in autumn.

冬 : トウ、ふゆ

	Meaning: winter The upper part looks like 夕. Try to maintain a good balance (left & right) when you draw the 3rd stroke. The last two short strokes should be tilted properly.

Meaning: winter

The upper part looks like 夕. Try to maintain a good balance (left & right) when you draw the 3rd stroke.
The last two short strokes should be tilted properly.

冬	ふゆ	winter	n
今年の冬は、さむい(寒い)です。 Winter this year is cold.

Writing Practice

Printable writing practice sheet is available at Kanji Writing Practice page.

Tips for Beautiful Handwriting (1)

Differentiate straight and curved lines!

Kanji characters are mix of straight and curved lines. Look closely. Many lines are slightly curved, and that makes the character beautiful.

In most cases (but not all), horizontal and vertical lines are straight, and diagonal lines are curved.

Also in handwriting (especially in calligraphy), horizontal lines are slightly tilted upwards (beginning lower, ending higher).

Students of Western countries tend to write in Italic. It is not recommended to do it with Japanese characters.

	The line 1 & 2 are slightly curved. If you write it with two straight lines, it would look improper for native Japanese.
	The line 1 & 2 are straight, 3 & 4 are slightly curved. The line 1 is slightly tilted upwards.