思 — how to write the kanji for “think”
思 (“think”) is a JLPT N4 kanji taught in second grade in Japan. In newspapers it is the 132nd most used kanji. KANJIDIC2 gives it 1 on reading and 3 kun readings, so the word decides how you say it. Its parts sit stacked: 田 (“rice field”), strokes 1–5; 心 (“heart”, its radical), strokes 6–9, each finished before the next. Its native reading omo-u leads in its common words, as in 思い (“thought”) and 思う (“to think”); read shi it forms 意思 (“intention”). Chinese reads it sī, “to think”, at HSK 2.
- Strokes
- 9
- JLPT
- N4
- Radical
- 心 (“heart”)
- On
- シ
- Kun
- おも·う, おもえら·く, おぼ·す
Stroke by stroke
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- Vertical ㇑top leftdownwards
- Horizontal-turn ㇕top leftrightwards → downwards
- Vertical ㇑topdownwards
- Horizontal ㇐top leftrightwards
- Horizontal ㇐leftrightwards
- Dot ㇔bottom leftdownwards
- Flat slanted hook ㇃leftdown and right → rightwards
- Dot ㇔centerdown and right → up and right
- Dot ㇔rightdown and right
Japanese and Chinese
The two models differ in shape, so our comparison does not claim an order; compare the numbered frames yourself (9 strokes in Japanese, 9 strokes in Chinese).
Trace it
Follow the numbers. Tracing help
Readings
- On (Chinese-derived)
- シ shi
- Kun (native)
- おも·う omo-u, おもえら·く omoera-ku (rare), おぼ·す obo-su (rare)
- Meanings
- think
- Read omo-u
- 思い 思う 思わず 思惑 思い切って 思い出
- Read shi
- 意思 思想 思考
- School year
- second grade
- Newspaper rank
- 132nd of 2,500 (KANJIDIC2)
- Korean hanja
- 사 sa
- Common words
- 36 in JMdict
Words with 思
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 思い | おもい omoi | thought; imagination |
| 思う | おもう omou | to think; to consider |
| 意思 | いし ishi | intention; wish |
| 思わず | おもわず omowazu | unconsciously; involuntarily |
| 思想 | しそう shisou | thought; idea |
| 思惑 | おもわく omowaku | expectation; anticipation |
| 思い切って | おもいきって omoikitte | resolutely; boldly |
| 思い出 | おもいで omoide | memories; recollections |
| 思考 | しこう shikou | thought; consideration |
| 思いやり | おもいやり omoiyari | consideration; thoughtfulness |
Most common first (JMdict).
Practice sheet
Print at 100%. Several kanji: worksheet maker.
Keep going
Same parts:
JLPT N4, in list order: