僕
僕·I (male), servant
- On-yomi
- ボク
- Kun-yomi
- しもべ
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 僕 | ぼく | I (male, casual-polite) |
| 僕たち | ぼくたち | we (male speaker) |
| 公僕 | こうぼく | public servant |
| 僕ら | ぼくら | we (casual) |
Example sentences
僕は毎朝六時に起きる。
ぼくはまいあさろくじにおきる。
I get up at six every morning.
僕たちは同じ大学に通っていた。
ぼくたちはおなじだいがくにかよっていた。
We went to the same university.
公務員は公僕であるべきだ。
こうむいんはこうぼくであるべきだ。
Civil servants should be servants of the public.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Writing 相撲 with 僕 — it uses 撲 (すもう)
- Using 僕 in formal writing or business speech — 私 is expected there
Memory aid
Picture it
The person radical 亻 plus a load on the back: originally a servant, used by men to speak of themselves modestly.
Vocabulary using this kanji
Quick check
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What does the kanji 僕 mean?