侍
侍·waiter, samurai, wait upon
- On-yomi
- ジ
- Kun-yomi
- さむらい
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 侍 | さむらい | samurai; warrior |
| 侍医 | じい | court physician; personal doctor to a monarch |
| 侍女 | じじょ | lady-in-waiting; maidservant |
| 侍従 | じじゅう | chamberlain (of the imperial household) |
Example sentences
侍は腰に刀を差していた。
さむらいはこしにかたなをさしていた。
The samurai wore a sword at his waist.
江戸時代の侍の生活について本を読んだ。
えどじだいのさむらいのせいかつについてほんをよんだ。
I read a book about the life of samurai in the Edo period.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Writing 待 for 侍 — 侍 needs the person radical
- 武士 is the broader historical term; 侍 originally meant one who attends a lord
Memory aid
Picture it
A person 亻 at the temple 寺: someone standing in attendance — and the retainer who attends his lord is the samurai.
Vocabulary using this kanji
Quick check
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What does the kanji 侍 mean?