Readings: シ (Onyomi), すがた (Kunyomi)
Meaning: figure, shape, appearance, posture, form
The kanji 姿 combines 女 (woman) and 次 (next/order). Originally, it depicted a woman’s beautiful and orderly posture or form. The 次 component here is primarily phonetic, suggesting the meaning of “form” or “appearance.”
View JLPT N1 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 姿 has 9 strokes. It starts with the 女 radical on the left, followed by the right-hand component. Pay attention to the order and direction of each stroke, especially the diagonal strokes.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 女 |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 9 |
| JLPT Level | N1 |
| Grade | S |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- シ (Shi)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- 姿 (sugata)
Common Words Using 姿
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 姿勢 | しせい | posture, attitude |
| 容姿 | ようし | figure, appearance |
| 雄姿 | ゆうし | gallant figure, heroic figure |
| 風姿 | ふうし | graceful appearance, demeanor |
| 英姿 | えいし | heroic figure |
| 麗姿 | れいし | beautiful figure/appearance |
| 姿容 | しよう | appearance, figure |
| 姿態 | したい | figure, posture (literary) |
| 雅姿 | がし | elegant figure/appearance (literary) |
| 神姿 | しんし | divine figure (literary) |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 姿 | すがた | figure, shape, appearance |
| 後ろ姿 | うしろすがた | figure from behind |
| 晴れ姿 | はれすがた | figure in formal attire, dressed-up appearance |
| 寝姿 | ねすがた | sleeping figure |
| 立ち姿 | たちすがた | standing figure |
| 座り姿 | すわりすがた | sitting figure |
| 変わり姿 | かわりすがた | changed appearance, transformed figure |
| 浴衣姿 | ゆかたすがた | figure in a yukata |
| 親子姿 | おやこすがた | figure of parent and child |
| 花嫁姿 | はなよめすがた | bridal figure |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 彼の後ろ姿が寂しそうに見えた。
Kana: かれのうしろすがたがさびしそうにみえた。
Romaji: Kare no ushirosugata ga sabishisō ni mieta.
English: His figure from behind looked lonely.
Japanese: 彼女の優雅な立ち姿に魅了された。
Kana: かのじょのゆうがなたちすがたにみりょうされた。
Romaji: Kanojo no yūgana tachisugata ni miryō sareta.
English: I was captivated by her graceful standing posture.
Japanese: 姿勢を正して座りましょう。
Kana: しせいをただしてすわりましょう。
Romaji: Shisei o tadashite suwarimashō.
English: Let’s sit with good posture.
Japanese: 彼は昔と変わらない若々しい容姿を保っている。
Kana: かれはむかしとかわらないわかわかしいようしをたもっている。
Romaji: Kare wa mukashi to kawaranai wakawakashii yōshi o tamotte iru.
English: He maintains a youthful appearance unchanged from the past.
Japanese: 鏡に映った自分の姿を見て驚いた。
Kana: かがみにうつったじぶんのすがたをみておどろいた。
Romaji: Kagami ni utsutta jibun no sugata o mite odoroita.
English: I was surprised to see my own reflection in the mirror.
Japanese: バレエダンサーの美しい舞姿に感動した。
Kana: ばれえだんさーのうつくしいまいすがたにかんどうした。
Romaji: Barē dansā no utsukushii maisugata ni kandō shita.
English: I was moved by the beautiful dancing figure of the ballet dancer.
Japanese: 卒業式の晴れ姿を写真に残した。
Kana: そつぎょうしきのはれすがたをしゃしんにのこした。
Romaji: Sotsugyōshiki no haresugata o shashin ni nokoshita.
English: We took photos of our formal appearance at the graduation ceremony.
Japanese: 子どもの寝姿はとても可愛らしい。
Kana: こどものねすがたはとてもかわいらしい。
Romaji: Kodomo no nesugata wa totemo kawairashii.
English: A child’s sleeping figure is very cute.
Japanese: 彼の最後の雄姿は、今も目に焼き付いている。
Kana: かれのさいごのゆうしは、いまもめにやきついている。
Romaji: Kare no saigo no yūshi wa, ima mo me ni yakitsuite iru.
English: His last gallant figure is still burned into my memory.
Japanese: 彼女の浴衣姿は、夏の風物詩だ。
Kana: かのじょのゆかたすがたは、なつのふうぶつしだ。
Romaji: Kanojo no yukatasugata wa, natsu no fūbutsushi da.
English: Her figure in a yukata is a symbol of summer.
Related Grammar & kanji list
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