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JapanLingo

maintain / fiber

N2
Onyomi
Stroke count
14
JLPT
N2

Onyomi are readings often used in compound words. Kunyomi are native Japanese readings. Learn each reading with an example word.

Memory tip

A flat illustration of a needle threaded and ready to sew, with the kanji 維 ("maintain") drawn into the picture.

Break 維 down and you get 糸 (thread / silk) — a thread wound on its spool, and beside it 隹 (short-tailed bird) — a small bird perched with its wing folded. Picture a needle threaded and ready to sew, put 維 inside it, and let that scene stand for "maintain" — maintain / fiber. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

Stroke Order

Stroke count: 14

General writing tips

These general rules have exceptions. Follow the animation and numbered frames for this character.

  • •Write from top to bottom.
  • •Write from left to right.
  • •Write horizontal strokes before the vertical strokes that cross them.
  • •Draw an outer enclosure first, then fill in what is inside.
  • •In symmetric shapes, write the centre before the left and right sides.
  • •This kanji has 14 strokes — trace them in order in the practice area below.

Step by step

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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

iji

maintenance

ijisuru

to do maintenance

ijishita

plain past: did maintenance

ijishimasu

polite: do maintenance

ijichuudesu

in the middle of maintenance

ijishinai

plain negative: does not do maintenance

Example sentences (2)

hinshitsu o iji suru no wa kantan de wa arimasen.

Maintaining quality is not easy.

keihi o herasu ippou de, saabisu no shitsu wa iji shinakereba narimasen.

While cutting costs, we still have to maintain the quality of service.