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道Nihongo Path
薪

薪·firewood, kindling, fuel wood

On-yomi
シン
Kun-yomi
まきたきぎ

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

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

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
薪まきfirewood
薪ストーブまきストーブwood-burning stove
薪割りまきわりsplitting firewood; a splitting axe
薪炭しんたんfirewood and charcoal (as fuel)

Example sentences

  1. 山小屋で薪を割った。

    やまごやでまきをわった。

    I split firewood at the mountain hut.

  2. 冬に備えて薪を蓄えておく。

    ふゆにそなえてまきをたくわえておく。

    We lay in firewood for the winter.

  3. 居間には薪ストーブが置いてある。

    いまにはまきストーブがおいてある。

    There is a wood stove in the living room.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 薪 as しん on its own — as a noun it is まき (or the more literary たきぎ)
  • Writing 薪ストーブ as 新ストーブ

Memory aid

Picture it

Grass 艹 over 新 (new): freshly cut wood — and 新 itself already contains the axe 斤 that cuts it.

Quick check

1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5

What does the kanji 薪 mean?