yesterday / last
N4- Onyomi
- サク
- Stroke count
- 9
- JLPT
- N4
Onyomi are readings often used in compound words. Kunyomi are native Japanese readings. Learn each reading with an example word.
Memory tip
Break 昨 down and you get 日 (sun / day) — the sun framed by four strokes, marking one day, and beside it 乍 (suddenly / make) — a jagged stroke stopped mid-line, work broken off in a sudden burst. Picture the sun shining in a clear sky, put 昨 inside it, and let that scene stand for "yesterday" — yesterday / last. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.
Stroke Order
Stroke count: 9
General writing tips
These general rules have exceptions. Follow the animation and numbered frames for this character.
- •上から下へ書きます。Write from top to bottom.
- •左から右へ書きます。Write from left to right.
- •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.
- •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.
- •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.
- •この漢字は9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 9 strokes — trace them in order in the practice area below.
Step by step
Practice Writing
Free writing practice — compare your writing with the example. This canvas does not check your shape or stroke order. Draw with a mouse, finger, or pen; scroll outside the square to move down the page.
Trace the faded character, or hide the outline to practise from memory.
Writing Tips
- 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
昨日
kinou
yesterday
昨日から始まります
kinou kara hajimarimasu
starts from yesterday
昨日までに出します
kinou made ni dashimasu
submit by yesterday
昨日の予定があります
kinou no yotei ga arimasu
plans for yesterday
Example sentences (3)
昨日は雨が降りました。
きのう は あめ が ふりました。
kinou wa ame ga furimashita.
It rained yesterday.
昨日、友だちと映画を見ました。
きのう、ともだち と えいが を みました。
kinou, tomodachi to eiga o mimashita.
I watched a movie with my friend yesterday.
昨日の試合はうちのチームが勝ちました。
きのう の しあい は うち の ちーむ が かちました。
kinou no shiai wa uchi no chiimu ga kachimashita.
Our team won yesterday's match.