KaiwaGo手 kanji: meaning, readings and stroke order
手 means “hand”. It is written with 4 strokes and is a JLPT N5 kanji.
On’yomi: シュ (shu). Kun’yomi: て (te).
How to write 手 (stroke order)
Write 手 in 4 strokes, following the numbers. Each small box adds one stroke; the red line is the stroke to draw.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
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 手
Trace 手 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 手
| On’yomi (Chinese reading) | シュ (shu) |
|---|---|
| Kun’yomi (Japanese reading) | て (te) |
The on’yomi is usually used in compound words, the kun’yomi when 手 stands alone or is followed by hiragana. A dot (.) marks where the hiragana ending starts.
Example words with 手
| Word | Reading | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 手 | て te | hand | |
| 上手 | じょうず jouzu | skillful |
手 (te) means “hand”.
上手 (jouzu) means “skillful”. Also in this word: 上
FAQ
What does 手 mean in Japanese?
手 means “hand”. Common words with it are 手 (te, “hand”) and 上手 (jouzu, “skillful”).
How many strokes does 手 have?
手 has 4 strokes. Follow the stroke-order diagram on this page from stroke 1 to 4.
How do you read 手?
The on’yomi is シュ (shu) and the kun’yomi is て (te). Which one is used depends on the word.
Is 手 on the JLPT N5?
Yes. 手 is kanji number 73 of the 101 N5 kanji on this site.