Kanji N3

指: finger, point to, indicate

指 is a JLPT N3 kanji meaning finger, point to, indicate, written with 9 strokes. It is read シ (on) and ゆび, さす (kun). Children in Japan learn it in grade 3. You will see it in 指導 (しどう, guidance) and 指 (ゆび, finger).

指

Meanings

  • finger
  • point to
  • indicate
  • put into
  • play (chess)
  • measure (ruler)
Strokes9
JLPT levelN3
School gradeGrade 3
Frequency#155 of 2,500

On reading · Kun reading

On reading
  • シ

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

Kun reading
  • ゆび
  • さす
  • -さし

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.

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Now draw it

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

1234567890 / 9

Your turn: draw stroke 1 of 9. Start at the dot.

Common words with 指

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

  • 指導しどう

    guidance; leadership; instruction; direction

    JLPT N3
  • 指ゆび

    finger; toe; digit

    JLPT N4
  • 指輪ゆびわ

    (finger) ring

    JLPT N4
  • 指すさす

    to point

    JLPT N3
  • 指定してい

    designation; specification; assignment

    JLPT N2
  • 指示しじ

    indication; denotation; designation

    JLPT N1
  • 指揮しき

    command; direction; supervision

    JLPT N1
  • 指摘してき

    pointing out; identification

    JLPT N1

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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.