Part 6: 百千万円本買高安新古

百 : ヒャク

	Meaning: hundred Shape: 一 + 白 The 2nd stroke goes towards lower left, not straight down. Don't mix up with the upper part of 夏.

Meaning: hundred

Shape: 一 + 白

The 2nd stroke goes towards lower left, not straight down.
Don't mix up with the upper part of 夏.

Click button to see the stroke order animation.

Word	Reading	Meaning	Class

百	ひゃく	hundred	n
The pronunciation changes when it follows after particular numbers. 百<hyaku>, 二百<ni-hyaku>, 三百<san-byaku>, 四百<yon-hyaku>, 五百<go-hyaku>, 六百<rop-pyaku>, 七百<nana-hyaku>, 八百<hap-pyaku>, 九百<kyū-hyaku> See numbers page for more details.

八百[屋]	やおや	vegetable shop, green grocer	n

千 : セン、ち

	Meaning: thousand The 1st stroke is drawn from the right to lower left. The 1st stroke is shorter than the 2nd stroke. Don't mix up with 干.

Meaning: thousand

The 1st stroke is drawn from the right to lower left.
The 1st stroke is shorter than the 2nd stroke.
Don't mix up with 干.

						千
						せん
						thousand
						n
					

The pronunciation changes when it follows after 三.

千<sen>, 二千<ni-sen>, 三千<san-zen>, 四千<yon-sen>, 五千<go-sen>, 六千<roku-sen>, 七千<nana-sen>, 八千<has-sen>, 九千<kyū-sen>,

See numbers page for more details.

万 : バン、マン

	Meaning: ten thousand The 1st and the 3rd stroke are not crossed. Tilt the 3rd stroke properly. Don't mix up with 方.

Meaning: ten thousand

The 1st and the 3rd stroke are not crossed.
Tilt the 3rd stroke properly.
Don't mix up with 方.

万	まん	ten thousand	n
10,000 is 一万, not just 万. 一万<ichi-man>, 二万<ni-man>, 三万<san-man>, 四万<yon-man>, 五万<go-man>, 六万<roku-man>, 七万<nana-man>, 八万<hachi-man>, 九万<kyū-man>, 十万<jū-man> See numbers page for more details.

万年[筆]	まんねんひつ	fountain pen	n

円 : エン、まる(い)

	Meaning: circle No lines are crossed, just touching. Create two equal squares in the upper area. Don't mix up with 丹.

Meaning: circle

No lines are crossed, just touching.
Create two equal squares in the upper area.
Don't mix up with 丹.

～円	～えん	_Yen (currency unit)	n
百円<100 yen>, 五千円<5,000 yen>, 十五万円<150,000 yen>

円い	まるい	round, circular	i-adj
Another Kanji 丸い has the same reading and meaning. 丸い is used more often.

本 : ホン、もと

	Meaning: book Shape: 木 + 一 Locate the last stroke at the right place. The last stroke should not be too long.

Meaning: book

Shape: 木 + 一

Locate the last stroke at the right place.
The last stroke should not be too long.

本	ほん	book	n

～本	～ほん	counter for long, thin objects	n
The pronunciation changes when it follows after particular numbers. 一本<ip-pon>, 二本<ni-hon>, 三本<san-bon>, 四本<yon-hon>, 五本<go-hon>, 六本<rop-pon>, 七本<nana-hon>, 八本<hap-pon>, 九本<kyū-hon>, 十本<jup-pon>

本[棚]	ほんだな	bookshelf	n

日本	にほん, にっぽん	Japan	n
There are two ways of reading - nihon and nippon. Both can mean Japan (name of a country). There is no rule which should be used in which case. For the international sports games, nippon is usually used.

買 : バイ、か(う)

	Meaning: to buy Shape: 四 + 貝 The upper part is like 四, but the inner two strokes are vertical straight lines. The bottom part is 貝, not 見.

Meaning: to buy

Shape: 四 + 貝

The upper part is like 四, but the inner two strokes are vertical straight lines.
The bottom part is 貝, not 見.

買う	かう	to buy, to purchase	1-v
本を買いました。 I bought a book.

買い[物]	かいもの	shopping	n

高 : コウ、たか、たか(い)、たか(まる)、たか(める)

	Meaning: high, tall, expensive Shape: Symbolizing the shape of a tall building. Maintain the balance of upper and lower parts. Each element is close to each other, but there should be some space in between.

Meaning: high, tall, expensive

Shape: Symbolizing the shape of a tall building.

Maintain the balance of upper and lower parts.
Each element is close to each other, but there should be some space in between.

高い	たかい	high, tall	i-adj
ふじさんは、日本で一ばん高いです。 Mount Fuji is highest in Japan.

高い	たかい	expensive	i-adj
このカメラは、高いです。 This camera is expensive.

安 : アン、やす(い)

	Meaning: easeful, untroubled, calm, inexpensive Shape: Symbolizing a woman secured under the roof. Upper part （first 3 strokes) is called u-kanmuri. It is like Katakana ウ. The lower part is 女. Look closely how lines are crossed.

Meaning: easeful, untroubled, calm, inexpensive

Shape: Symbolizing a woman secured under the roof.

Upper part （first 3 strokes) is called u-kanmuri. It is like Katakana ウ.
The lower part is 女. Look closely how lines are crossed.

						安い
						やすい
						inexpensive, cheap
						i-adj
					

新 : シン、あたら(しい)、あら(た)、にい

	Meaning: new Shape: 立 + 木 + 斤 The left part is 立 + 木. The last two strokes are not crossed.

Meaning: new

Shape: 立 + 木 + 斤

The left part is 立 + 木.
The last two strokes are not crossed.

						新しい
						あたらしい
						new
						i-adj
					

古 : コ、ふる(い)、ふる(す)

	Meaning: old Shape: 十 + 口. Symbolizing the concept "old" by the shape of an ancestor's skull with decorations on the top. Upper and lower parts are just touching. Don't mix up with 吉.

Meaning: old

Shape: 十 + 口. Symbolizing the concept "old" by the shape of an ancestor's skull with decorations on the top.

Upper and lower parts are just touching.
Don't mix up with 吉.

						古い
						ふるい
						old
						i-adj
					

Unlike English, 古い is not used for living beings.

Correct: 古い本<old book>

Wrong: 古い人<old person>

Writing Practice

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

Stroke Order Rules (2)

	When lines are crossed, the horizontal line first, then the vertical line. (There are some exceptions such as 五 and 九.)
	When diagonal lines are crossed or touched, the line to the left first, then the line to the right.