KaiwaGo気 kanji: meaning, readings and stroke order
気 means “spirit, air”. It is written with 6 strokes and is a JLPT N5 kanji.
On’yomi: キ (ki), ケ (ke). Kun’yomi: none.
How to write 気 (stroke order)
Write 気 in 6 strokes, following the numbers. Each small box adds one stroke; the red line is the stroke to draw.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
General rules: top before bottom, left before right, horizontal before a vertical that crosses it, and a closing bottom stroke last. Writing in the right order makes handwriting readable and helps you count strokes when you look a kanji up.
Practice writing 気
Trace 気 over the faint model with your finger or mouse, following the stroke order above. Turn the model off to write it from memory.
Readings of 気
| On’yomi (Chinese reading) | キ (ki)ケ (ke) |
|---|---|
| Kun’yomi (Japanese reading) | none |
The on’yomi is usually used in compound words, the kun’yomi when 気 stands alone or is followed by hiragana. A dot (.) marks where the hiragana ending starts.
Example words with 気
| Word | Reading | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 元気 | げんき genki | healthy, energetic | |
| 天気 | てんき tenki | weather |
元気 (genki) means “healthy, energetic”.
天気 (tenki) means “weather”. Also in this word: 天
FAQ
What does 気 mean in Japanese?
気 means “spirit, air”. Common words with it are 元気 (genki, “healthy, energetic”) and 天気 (tenki, “weather”).
How many strokes does 気 have?
気 has 6 strokes. Follow the stroke-order diagram on this page from stroke 1 to 6.
How do you read 気?
The on’yomi is キ (ki), ケ (ke) and the kun’yomi is none. Which one is used depends on the word.
Is 気 on the JLPT N5?
Yes. 気 is kanji number 53 of the 101 N5 kanji on this site.