Basic Rules

Rule 1: Make every Kanji the same size. Imagine a square when writing.
Rule 2: Follow the Basic Stroke order:
  • Write from left to right. 
  • Write downward.
  • Draw strokes from top to bottom.
  • Draw strokes from left to right.
  • Draw square this way:
  • The line that closes the square is drawn last.
  • The line that passes through a square  is drawn last.
  • Stroke ending : full stop, stretch, hook

hana 花

Kanji Number: 0009 
Stroke: 7
On-yomi:  
Kun-yomi: はな 
Meaning: flower
Example: 花火、花粉、花瓶、花嫁

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花火
はなび
hanabi
fireworks
花粉
かふん
kafun
pollen

花瓶
かびん
kabin
vase

花嫁
はなよめ
hanayome
bride


kai 貝

Kanji Number: 0010
Stroke:7
On-yomi:  ---
Kun-yomi: かい
Meaning: shell, shell fish
Example: 貝殻、二枚貝  

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貝殻
かいがら
kaigara
sea shell
二枚貝
にまいがい
nimai gai
bivalve

hi 火

Kanji Number: 0008
Stroke: 4
On-yomi: 
Kun-yomi:   
Meaning: fire
Example: 火曜日、火山、火事、花火

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火曜日
かようび
kayoubi
Tuesday
火山
かざん
kazan
volcano

火事
かじ
kaji
fire

花火
はなび
hanabi
fireworks

shita 下

Kanji Number: 0007
Stroke: 3
On-yomi:  カ、ゲ
Kun-yomi: した、しも
Meaning: under, lower, base
Example:  地下鉄、太陽の下で、下手、下降する

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地下鉄
ちかてつ
chikatetsu
subway  
太陽の下で 
たいようのもとで
taiyouno
motode
under  the sun

下手
へた
heta
poor, clumsy

下降する
かこうする
kakousuru
to go down,  drop


onyomi

On-yomi is the Chinese pronunciation of the Kanji

There are 2 ways to read kanji: On-yomi and  Kun-yomi . The way of reading is decided according to each word.When Kanji is used together with other Kanji to make a word, it is often read by its On-yomi.

kunyomi

Kun-yomi is Japan's original pronunciation of the Kanji.

There are 2 ways to read kanji:  On-yomi   and Kun-yomi. The way of reading is decided according to each word. When Kanji is used alone as a word, it is usually read by its Kun-yomi.

oto 音

Kanji Number: 0006
Stroke: 9
On-yomi:  オン、イン
Kun-yomi:  おと、ね
Meaning: sound, noise
Example:  音楽 母音 発音 音色

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音楽
おんがく
ongaku
music  
母音 
ぼいん
boin
vowel

発音
はつそん
hatsuon
pronunciation

音色
ねいろ
neiro
timbre, tone color

ou 王

Kanji Number: 0005
Stroke: 4
On-yomi:  オウ
Kun-yomi:  ----
Meaning: king, ruler
Example:  王様 女王 王族 王国

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百円
おうさま
ousama
King  
円形 
じょおう
joou
Queen

王族
おうぞく
ouzoku
Royal family

王国
おうこく
oukoku
A kingdom

yen 円

Kanji Number: 0004
Stroke: 4
On-yomi:  エン
Kun-yomi:  まる(い)
Meaning: yen, round, circle
Example:  百円 円形 円満

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百円
ひゃくえん
hyaku en
100 yen  
円形 
えんけい
en kei
circle

円満
えんまん
en man
peaceful


ame 雨

Kanji Number: 0003
Stroke: 8
On-yomi:  
Kun-yomi:  あめ、あま
Meaning: rain
Example:  雨 雨雲 雨季

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おおあめ
ooame
heavy rain   
雨雲
あまぐも
amagumo
rain cloud

雨季
うき
uki
rainy season

Kanji 漢字

Japanese Writing System

Kanji are adopted Chinese characters used in modern Japanese writing system along with Hiragana and Katakana. As of 2010, the Japanese Ministry of Education listed about 2, 136 regularly used kanji known as Jōyō kanji.It consists of 1,006 kanji taught in elementary and 1,130 kanji taught in high school. Foreigners learning Japanese focus on this list. And Kanji Diary will keep records of these as I study along. I wonder when will I ever finish. :=) Ganbarimasu!

migi 右

Kanji Number: 0002
Stroke: 5
On-yomi:  ウ、ユウ
Kun-yomi:  みぎ
Meaning: right
Example:  右手 左右 

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右手
みぎて
migite
right hand
左右
さゆう
sayuu
left and right

juu 十

Kanji Number: 0035
Stroke: 2
On-yomi:  ジュウ
Kun-yomi:  とお
Meaning: ten
Example: 十月 十日 十つ 十分 

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十月
じゅうがつ
juugatsu
October
十日
とおか
tooka
10 days, the 10th day

十分
じゅうぷん
juupon
10 minutes
十分
じゅうぶん
juubun
enough

kyuu 九

Kanji Number: 0013
Stroke: 2
On-yomi:  キュウ、ク
Kun-yomi:  ここの(つ)
Meaning: nine
Example: 九月 九日 九つ 九州 

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九月
くがつ
kugatsu
September
九日
ここのか
kokonoka
9 days, the 9th day

九つ
ここのつ
kokonotsu
9 pieces
九州
きゅうしゅう
Kyuushuu
Kyushu Island

hachi 八

Kanji Number: 0066
Stroke: 2
On-yomi:  ハチ
Kun-yomi:  や、やつ、やっつ、よう
Meaning: eight
Example: 八月 八日 八つ 八百屋

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八月
はちがつ
hachigatsu
August
八日
ようか
youka
8 days, the 8th day
八つ
やっつ
yattsu
8 pieces  
八百屋 
やおや
yaoya
vegetable store

nana 七

Kanji Number: 0032
Stroke: 2
On-yomi:  シチ
Kun-yomi:  なな(つ)、なの
Meaning: seven
Example: 七月 七日 七つ 七十

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七月
しちがつ
shichigatsu
July
七日
なのか
nanoka
7 days, the 7th day
七つ
ななつ
nanatsu
7pieces  
七十 
ななじゅう
nanajuu
seventy