書 Kanji: Meaning, Readings and Stroke Order

書: write; document; book; calligraphy. JLPT N5; 10 strokes.

Readings

On readings

ショ

Kun readings

か.く

Romaji

sho, kaku

Study notes

書 means 'to write,' and in compounds, 'document, book, calligraphy'.

On reading: ショ in 辞書 (じしょ, dictionary), 図書館 (としょかん, library), 教科書 (きょうかしょ, textbook), 書類 (しょるい, documents), 書道 (しょどう, calligraphy), 読書 (どくしょ, reading).

Kun reading: かく (書く, to write): 手紙を書く (to write a letter). In compound it becomes がき: 落書き (らくがき, scribble), 下書き (したがき, draft). It is read かき in 書留 (かきとめ, registered mail) and がき in 葉書 (はがき, postcard).

Remember: for 'to draw, to paint' another kanji is used, 描く (かく or えがく). In dictionaries 書 is classified under the radical 曰, not under 日.

Example words

• 図書館 (としょかん) — library
• 書く (かく) — to write

Example sentences

手紙を書きました。

tegami wo kakimashita.

I wrote a letter.

Stroke order

Follow the steps in order. Each new stroke is highlighted.

Stroke paths: KanjiVG, CC BY-SA 3.0. Sequential diagrams derived from the original paths.