Part 8: 大小多少長目口耳手足

大 : タイ、ダイ、おお、おお(いに)、おお(きい)

	Meaning: big Shape: 一 + 人. A person with arms and legs outstretched. Start the 3rd stroke at the right place. Don't mix up with 丈.

Meaning: big

Shape: 一 + 人. A person with arms and legs outstretched.

Start the 3rd stroke at the right place.
Don't mix up with 丈.

Click button to see the stroke order animation.

Word	Reading	Meaning	Class

大きい	おおきい	big, large	i-adj
大きな	おおきな	big, large	na-adj
There is no difference between 大きい(i-adjective) and 大きな(na-adjective) in the meaning and the usage. 大きい家 and 大きな家 are equally correct to mean a big house.

大[勢]	おおぜい	many (people)	adv
子どもが　大ぜい　います。<There are many children.>

大人	おとな	adult	n

大[使館]	たいしかん	embassy	n

大[切]	たいせつ	important	na-adj, n
これは　とても　大切です。<This is very important.>

大好き	だいすき	be strongly fond of, adore	adj
私は　すしが　大好きです。<I love sushi.>

大[丈夫]	だいじょうぶ	alright, OK	adj
大じょうぶ　ですか。<Are you alright?>

大学	だいがく	university	n

小 : ショウ、お、こ、ちい(さい)

	Meaning: small Shape: Wooden sticks split into smaller pieces. Middle vertical line is longer. Right and left short lines should be tilted properly. Don't mix up with 川.

Meaning: small

Shape: Wooden sticks split into smaller pieces.

Middle vertical line is longer.
Right and left short lines should be tilted properly.
Don't mix up with 川.

						小さい
						ちいさい
						small, little
						i-adj
					

						小さな
						ちいさな
						small, little
						na-adj
					

There is no difference between 小さい(i-adjective) and 小さな(na-adjective) in the meaning and the usage.

小さい家 and 小さな家 are equally correct to mean a small house.

多 : タ、おお(い)

	Meaning: many Shape: 夕 + 夕 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: many

Shape: 夕 + 夕

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.

多い	おおい	many, a lot of	i-adj
六月は　雨が多いです。<It rains a lot in June.>

少 : ショウ、すく(ない)、すこ(し)

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

Meaning: little quantity

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

少ない	すくない	little quantity, few, scarce	i-adj
今年は、雨が　少ないです。<We have little rain this year.>

少し	すこし	little quantity, few, scarce	adv
今日、雨が　少し　ふりました。<It rained a little today.>

長 : チョウ、なが(い)

	Meaning: long Shape: 老人がながい頭髪をなびかせてたつさまを描いたもの。 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: long

Shape: 老人がながい頭髪をなびかせてたつさまを描いたもの。

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.

						長い
						ながい
						long
						i-adj
					

目 : ボク、モク、ま、め

	Meaning: eye Shape: Symbolizing the shape of an eye. The 1st and the 2nd strokes are not crossed. There should be enough inner space for four short lines. Tilt short lines properly.

Meaning: eye

Shape: Symbolizing the shape of an eye.

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

口 : ク、コウ、くち

	Meaning: mouth Shape: Symbolizing the shape of a mouth. 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: mouth

Shape: Symbolizing the shape of a mouth.

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.

口	くち	mouth	n

入口	いりぐち	entrance	n
口 also means hole or space which connects inside and outside.

出口	でぐち	exit	n

耳 : ジ、みみ

	Meaning: ear Shape: Symbolizing the shape of an ear. Look closely which part is crossed or just touched. The 5th stroke goes upwards.

Meaning: ear

Shape: Symbolizing the shape of an ear.

Look closely which part is crossed or just touched.
The 5th stroke goes upwards.

手 : シュ、た、て

	Meaning: hand Shape: Symbolizing the shape of a hand with fingers. The 1st stroke is drawn from the right to lower left. The last stroke is curved.

Meaning: hand

Shape: Symbolizing the shape of a hand with fingers.

The 1st stroke is drawn from the right to lower left.
The last stroke is curved.

手	て	hand	n

[切]手	きって	postage stamp	n

手紙	てがみ	letter	n

お手[洗]い	おてあらい	toilet, rest room	n
Another word トイレ is used more often for toilet.

上手	じょうず	be good at, skillful	na-adj, n
かのじょは、りょうりが　上手です。<She is good at cooking.>

下手	へた	be poor at	na-adj, n
私は、うたが　下手です。<I am poor at singing.>

足 : ソク、あし、た(す)、た(りる)、た(る)

	Meaning: foot, leg Shape: Symbolizing the shape of a leg (from knee to toe). The last stroke is slightly curved. Don't mix up with 是.

Meaning: foot, leg

Shape: Symbolizing the shape of a leg (from knee to toe).

The last stroke is slightly curved.
Don't mix up with 是.

足	あし	leg, foot	n
足 can mean both leg and foot.

Writing Practice

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

Stroke Order Rules (3)

	When there are left, middle and right parts AND the left and the right parts are in 1 or 2 strokes each... Middle first, then left and right. (火 is an exception.)
	Outer part first, then inner part.