食 — JLPT N5 Kanji | Nihongo Pass

食

JLPT N5

Kun-yomi (Japanese reading)

く.う、く.らう、た.べる、はむ

On-yomi (Chinese reading)

ショク、ジキ

Meaning

Stroke Count

9 strokes

Related Vocabulary

食べる To eat 食べ物 Food 食べ物 food, things to eat

📝 How to Remember

「食」has 9 strokes. Break it into smaller visual components — most complex kanji are combinations of simpler parts you already know.

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

「食」has both On-yomi (ショク、ジキ) and Kun-yomi (く.う、く.らう、た.べる、はむ). 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)

「食」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 「食」?+

On-yomi: ショク、ジキ. Kun-yomi: く.う、く.らう、た.べる、はむ.

What does 「食」mean in Japanese?+

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

How many strokes does 「食」have?+

「食」is written with 9 strokes.

Is 「食」on the JLPT N5?+

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

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