Nihongo

Kanji Detail of 石

Level:N3 Mid
Strokes:5
Stroke Order
Related Words
AI Explanation
Basic Meaning

The kanji character fundamentally represents "stone" or "rock." It encompasses all sorts of stone materials, from small pebbles to large boulders. It also suggests solidity, permanence, and the unyielding nature associated with stone.

Readings

・On-yomi (音読み): セキ (seki) ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): いし (ishi)

Usage Examples

⚫︎ 石鹸 (sekken) Translation: Soap ⚫︎ 石炭 (sekitan) Translation: Coal ⚫︎ 宝石 (houseki) Translation: Gemstone, jewel

Origin and Formation

The kanji is a pictograph. It depicts a stone in a cave or under a cliff. The original form of the character shows a stone with lines representing the veins or texture of the rock. Over time, the character has simplified, but the core image of a stone remains.

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