Onyomi: ショ · Kunyomi: -が.き, -がき, か.く · Meanings: write
Kanji for write
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The kanji 書 shows the image of a hand holding a writing brush beneath the sun or light. In ancient times, writing was done with a brush dipped in ink, and people wrote by daylight. The upper part comes from 日 (sun), symbolizing clarity and illumination — writing makes things clear and recorded. The lower part represents a hand or tool in action. Together, the image captures the act of recording thoughts in writing.
A hand holding a brush under the sun — 書 shows the act of writing clearly, turning thoughts into visible words.
Imagine sitting by the window in sunlight (日), holding a brush in your hand, dipping it in ink, and carefully writing on paper — that’s 書, the kanji for writing and books. The sun gives light so your words can be seen clearly.
| Word | Reading | Meaning | Meta |
|---|---|---|---|
| 文 | ふみ | letter, note, mail | common JLPT-N1 Noun |
| 書 | しょ | book, document | Noun, Noun, used as a suffix |
| 書斎 | しょさい | study, library, den, home office, reading room | common JLPT-N3 Noun |
| 書く | かく | to write, to compose, to pen | common JLPT-N5 Godan verb with 'ku' ending, Transitive verb |
| 書店 | しょてん | bookshop, bookstore | common JLPT-N2 Noun |
| 書評 | しょひょう | book review | common JLPT-N1 Noun |
| 書類 | しょるい | document, papers | common JLPT-N3 Noun |
| 書物 | しょもつ | book, volume | common JLPT-N3 Noun |
| 書留 | かきとめ | registered mail, registered post, registration (of mail) | common JLPT-N2 Noun, Noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no' |
| 書籍 | しょせき | book, publication | common JLPT-N2 Noun |