米
米·rice, America
- On-yomi
- ベイマイ
- Kun-yomi
- こめ
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 米 | こめ | uncooked rice |
| 米国 | べいこく | the USA |
| 新米 | しんまい | new-crop rice; a newcomer |
| 玄米 | げんまい | brown rice |
Example sentences
日本人は毎日米を食べます。
にほんじんはまいにちこめをたべます。
Japanese people eat rice every day.
最近、米の値段が上がりました。
さいきん、こめのねだんがあがりました。
The price of rice has gone up recently.
祖父は米国に住んでいます。
そふはべいこくにすんでいます。
My grandfather lives in the United States.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- 米 alone is こめ, but in compounds it is ベイ or マイ (米国, 新米)
- 米 is uncooked rice; cooked rice on the plate is ご飯
Memory aid
Picture it
Grains scattering off a central stalk — a rice plant seen from above.
Vocabulary using this kanji
Quick check
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What does the kanji 米 mean?