serve / do
N4- Onyomi
- シ
- Kunyomi
- つか(える)
- Stroke count
- 5
- JLPT
- N4
Mnemonic
Think of a person standing and working for someone. The left side is a person (亻), helping someone complete work — so 仕 means to serve, do, or perform a task.
Stroke Order
Stroke count: 5
- 1上から下へ書きます。Write from top to bottom.
- 2左から右へ書きます。Write from left to right.
- 3横の画を先に、縦の画を後に書きます。Write horizontal strokes before the vertical strokes that cross them.
- 4外側の囲みを先に書き、中を後で書きます。Draw an outer enclosure first, then fill in what is inside.
- 5中央を先に、左右を後に書きます。In symmetric shapes, write the centre before the left and right sides.
- 6この漢字は5画です。下の練習エリアで順番に書いてみましょう。This kanji has 5 strokes — trace them in order in the practice area below.
Step by step
Stroke-order data: KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).
Practice Writing
Trace the faded character with your mouse or finger. Hide the outline to test yourself.
Structure
Radical
亻
person
Component
士
scholar / samurai
The person radical 亻 plus 士 (a serving scholar) gives the sense of serving or doing work. The reading し comes from 士.
Writing Tips
- Keep the 亻 radical compact on the left, and let the right side stand a little taller.
- Follow the order strictly: top-to-bottom and left-to-right. Correct order makes the shape balanced and natural.
- Keep each stroke in one smooth motion — don't lift the pen in the middle of a stroke.
- Close enclosing strokes cleanly so the character does not look open or broken.
- Common mistake: drawing strokes bottom-to-top or right-to-left. Even if the result looks similar, the wrong order shows in handwriting and makes it harder to read.
Example words
Example sentences (3)
仕事はとても大切です。
しごと は とても たいせつ です。
shigoto wa totemo taisetsu desu.
The work is very important.
毎日仕方を使います。
まいにち しかた を つかいます。
mainichi shikata o tsukaimasu.
I use the way of doing every day.
仕様の意味を調べました。
しよう の いみ を しらべました。
shiyou no imi o shirabemashita.
I looked up the meaning of "specification".