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道Nihongo Path
炊

炊·cook (rice), boil

On-yomi
スイ
Kun-yomi
た(く)

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

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

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

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
炊飯器すいはんきrice cooker
炊くたくto cook (rice)
自炊じすいcooking for oneself
炊事すいじcooking, kitchen work

Example sentences

  1. 毎朝ご飯を炊いています。

    まいあさごはんをたいています。

    I cook rice every morning.

  2. 一人暮らしを始めてから自炊するようになった。

    ひとりぐらしをはじめてからじすいするようになった。

    Since I started living alone I've come to cook for myself.

  3. 新しい炊飯器を買ったら味が変わった。

    あたらしいすいはんきをかったらあじがかわった。

    After I bought a new rice cooker the taste changed.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • 炊く is for rice and similar grains; other boiling is 煮る or 茹でる
  • Confusing 炊く (たく) with 焚く (たく, to burn firewood) — the fire is under the pot, not in it

Memory aid

Picture it

Fire 火 plus 欠, a person with an open mouth: someone leaning over the fire, breathing on it to keep the rice cooking.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 炊 mean?