数
数 — Number
number, strength, fate, law, figures
On’yomiスウ (suu)
On’yomiス (su)
On’yomiサク (saku)
On’yomiソク (soku)
Kun’yomiかず (kazu)
Kun’yomiかぞえる (kazoeru)
Kun’yomiしばしば (shibashiba)
Kun’yomiせめる (semeru)
Kun’yomiわずらわしい (wazurawashii)
Stroke order (13 strokes)
Watch the strokes draw themselves in the correct order — numbers mark where each stroke starts. Diagram from KanjiVG (CC BY-SA).
Common words using 数
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 数字 | すうじ suuji | numeral; digit; numeric character |
| 多数 | たすう tasuu | large number (of); many; majority |
| 定数 | ていすう teisuu | fixed number; quorum (for an assembly); constant |
| 数 | かず kazu | number; amount |
| 少数 | しょうすう shousuu | small number; few; minority |
| 複数 | ふくすう fukusuu | plural; multiple; plural (number) |
Study notes
数 is a JLPT N3 kanji written with 13 strokes. It is taught in Japanese elementary school (grade 2), so native children learn it early — a good sign it appears everywhere. Ranked #148 of the 2,500 most frequent kanji in newspapers. On’yomi (音読み) are Chinese-derived readings mostly used in compound words; kun’yomi (訓読み) are native Japanese readings, with any highlighted part written in hiragana after the kanji (okurigana).
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