Kanji · JLPT N5 · Level 8
気 spirit, energy
- Meaning
- spirit, energy
- On reading
- キ
- Kun reading
- -
Memory hook
A vapour shape with a stroke inside: steam rising off something. Air, mood and energy all at once. キ. 元気 genki, in good spirits; 天気 tenki, the weather.
Words that use 気
元気
げんき
well, energetic
天気
てんき
weather
How to write 気
Stroke order · 6 strokes
1
2
3
4
5
6
- 1. The sweep down to the left.
- 2 to 3. The horizontal across the top.
- 4. Horizontal across the middle, then turn down on the right side, ending in a hook.
- 5. The sweep down to the left.
- 6. The diagonal down to the right.
Stroke data from KanjiVG, CC BY-SA 3.0.
General rules
- Top to bottom, left to right.
- Horizontal strokes before crossing vertical ones (十 = horizontal, then vertical).
- Outside before inside - but close a box last (口).
- A vertical that passes all the way through comes last (中).
- Left-falling diagonal before right-falling (大).
気 is taught on day 16 of the kanji course, alongside 天 雨 空, with two writing passes and a short quiz.