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道Nihongo Path
飼

飼·raise (animals)

On-yomi
シ
Kun-yomi
か(う)

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.

13 strokes, numbered in writing order. Data: KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
飼うかうto keep (a pet)
飼育しいくbreeding, raising
飼い主かいぬしowner (of an animal)
飼料しりょうanimal feed

Example sentences

  1. 家で犬を二匹飼っています。

    いえでいぬをにひきかっています。

    We keep two dogs at home.

  2. 動物園で飼育員として働きたい。

    どうぶつえんでしいくいんとしてはたらきたい。

    I want to work as a keeper at a zoo.

  3. 迷子の猫の飼い主を探している。

    まいごのねこのかいぬしをさがしている。

    We're looking for the owner of a lost cat.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • 飼う (かう, keep an animal) sounds the same as 買う (かう, buy)

Memory aid

Picture it

The food radical 食 with 司 (to administer): the one in charge of the feeding — keeping animals.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 飼 mean?