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道Nihongo Path
手

手·hand

On-yomi
シュ
Kun-yomi
て

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

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

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

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
手てhand
手紙てがみletter
上手じょうずgood at
下手へたbad at

Example sentences

  1. ご飯の前に手を洗います。

    ごはんのまえにてをあらいます。

    I wash my hands before meals.

  2. 母に手紙を書きました。

    ははにてがみをかきました。

    I wrote a letter to my mother.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 上手 as *じょうて instead of じょうず

Memory aid

Picture it

Three fingers and a wrist drawn with one long downward stroke: a hand.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 手 mean?