手 — JLPT N5 Kanji | Nihongo Pass

手

JLPT N5

Kun-yomi (Japanese reading)

て、て、た

On-yomi (Chinese reading)

シュ、ズ

Meaning

Stroke Count

4 strokes

Related Vocabulary

手 Hand 手伝う To help / To assist 手術 surgery, operation 手紙 letter (mail)手袋 gloves 手前 this side, just before 手伝い help, assistance 切手 postage stamp 上手（な） Skillful / Good at 下手（な） Unskillful / Bad at 苦手 poor at (one's own), not one's strong point 上手 skilled, good at (someone else's skill)下手 poor at, unskilled 運転手 driver

📝 How to Remember

With 4 strokes, 「手」is easy to write once you learn the stroke order. Practice writing it 5 times daily until it becomes automatic.

⚠️ Teacher's Note — On-yomi vs Kun-yomi

「手」has both On-yomi (シュ、ズ) and Kun-yomi (て、て、た). On-yomi is typically used in compound words (two kanji together), while Kun-yomi appears when the kanji stands alone or with hiragana.

🎯 JLPT N5 — How It's Tested

もんだい1 (Kanji Reading) & もんだい2 (Kanji Writing)

「手」typically appears in もんだい1, where you choose the correct reading, and もんだい2, where you choose the correct kanji for a hiragana word. Make sure you can recognize it both ways.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How do you read the kanji 「手」?+

On-yomi: シュ、ズ. Kun-yomi: て、て、た.

What does 「手」mean in Japanese?+

「手」means "null". It is a JLPT N5 kanji — one of the most essential characters for beginners.

How many strokes does 「手」have?+

「手」is written with 4 strokes.

Is 「手」on the JLPT N5?+

Yes, 「手」is an official JLPT N5 kanji. Knowing all ~110 N5 kanji is essential for passing the exam.

Practice 「手」 with AI

Start Free Training →Try the demo — no sign-up