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道Nihongo Path
作

作·make

On-yomi
サクサ
Kun-yomi
つく(る)

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

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

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

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
作るつくるto make
作文さくぶんcomposition, essay
作品さくひんwork (of art)
手作りてづくりhandmade

Example sentences

  1. 母が夕ご飯を作っています。

    ははがゆうごはんをつくっています。

    My mother is making dinner.

  2. 日本語で作文を書きました。

    にほんごでさくぶんをかきました。

    I wrote an essay in Japanese.

  3. これは姉の手作りのケーキです。

    これはあねのてづくりのケーキです。

    This is a cake my older sister made herself.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 作家 as *さくか — the sound doubles to さっか.
  • Using 作る for building a house — large structures take 建てる.

Memory aid

Picture it

A person (亻) cutting notches into wood (乍) — someone in the act of making something.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 2 of 5

What does the kanji 作 mean?