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道Nihongo Path
弓

弓·bow

On-yomi
キュウ
Kun-yomi
ゆみ

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

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

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

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
弓道きゅうどうJapanese archery
弓ゆみbow
弓矢ゆみやbow and arrow
洋弓ようきゅうWestern-style archery

Example sentences

  1. 大学で弓道部に入った。

    だいがくできゅうどうぶにはいった。

    I joined the archery club at university.

  2. 彼女は弓を引いて的をねらった。

    かのじょはゆみをひいてまとをねらった。

    She drew her bow and aimed at the target.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 弓道 as ゆみどう — it is きゅうどう
  • Losing the sharp middle bend when writing it, so it looks like 己

Memory aid

Picture it

Three strokes tracing the curved back of a bow, with the string's tension bending it in the middle.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 弓 mean?