cooked rice / meal
N4- Onyomi
- ハン
- Kunyomi
- めし
- Stroke count
- 12
- JLPT
- N4
Onyomi are readings often used in compound words. Kunyomi are native Japanese readings. Learn each reading with an example word.
Memory tip
Picture a ripe stalk of grain: that is what 飯 means — cooked rice / meal. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 飠 (food / eat) — a bowl of food set at the left, and beside it 反 (opposite / turn over) — a hand reaching under an overhang to flip something over. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.
Stroke Order
Stroke count: 12
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12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 12 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
ご飯
gohan
rice
ご飯を使います
gohan o tsukaimasu
to use the rice
ご飯を買います
gohan o kaimasu
to buy the rice
ご飯があります
gohan ga arimasu
there is a rice
Example sentences (3)
いっしょにご飯を食べませんか。
いっしょ に ごはん を たべません か。
issho ni gohan o tabemasen ka.
Would you like to eat together?
朝ご飯はパンとコーヒーです。
あさごはん は ぱん と こーひー です。
asagohan wa pan to koohii desu.
Breakfast is bread and coffee.
昼ご飯の後、事務所に戻ります。
ひるごはん の あと、じむしょ に もどります。
hirugohan no ato, jimusho ni modorimasu.
I will go back to the office after lunch.