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道Nihongo Path
呼

呼·call, summon, breathe out

On-yomi
コ
Kun-yomi
よぶ

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
呼ぶよぶto call, to invite
呼吸こきゅうbreathing
呼び出すよびだすto call out, to summon
呼びかけるよびかけるto call out to, to appeal

Example sentences

  1. タクシーを呼んでください。

    タクシーをよんでください。

    Please call a taxi.

  2. 彼女はみんなに名前で呼ばれています。

    かのじょはみんなになまえでよばれています。

    Everyone calls her by her first name.

  3. ゆっくり深く呼吸してください。

    ゆっくりふかくこきゅうしてください。

    Please breathe slowly and deeply.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 呼吸 as *よぶすい instead of こきゅう
  • Confusing 呼ぶ (to call someone over) with 電話をかける (to phone)

Memory aid

Picture it

口 (mouth) on the left with breath escaping to the right — a voice going out to call someone.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 呼 mean?