Kanji N1

士: gentleman, scholar, samurai

士 is a JLPT N1 kanji meaning gentleman, scholar, samurai, written with 3 strokes. It is read シ (on) and さむらい (kun). Children in Japan learn it in grade 5. You will see it in 同士 (どうし, fellow) and 兵士 (へいし, soldier).

士

Meanings

  • gentleman
  • scholar
  • samurai
Strokes3
JLPT levelN1
School gradeGrade 5
Frequency#526 of 2,500

On reading · Kun reading

On reading
  • シ

On'yomi: from Chinese, written in katakana. Used in compound words.

Kun reading
  • さむらい

Kun'yomi: native Japanese, in hiragana. The faint part is the okurigana, written in kana after the kanji.

Watch the stroke order

Every stroke in order, the live one in vermilion. Replay as often as you like.

123

Now draw it

Trace each stroke in order. Wrong direction or wrong order gets flagged right away.

1230 / 3

Your turn: draw stroke 1 of 3. Start at the dot.

Common words with 士

The most useful words written with it, easiest first. Every other kanji in them opens its own page.

  • 同士どうし

    fellow; mutual; companion; comrade

    JLPT N1
  • 兵士へいし

    soldier

    JLPT N1
  • 博士はかせ

    expert; learned person

    JLPT N3
  • 紳士しんし

    gentleman

    JLPT N1
  • 武士ぶし

    samurai; warrior

    JLPT N2
  • 学士がくし

    university graduate; bachelor

    JLPT N1
  • 修士しゅうし

    master's (degree)

    JLPT N1
  • 力士りきし

    sumo wrestler; rikishi

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Stroke order from KanjiVG © Ulrich Apel, CC BY-SA 3.0. Readings, meanings and words from KANJIDIC2 and JMdict, names from JMnedict, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA 4.0, and Wikidata, CC0. JLPT lists after Jonathan Waller (tanos.co.uk), CC BY.