Readings: ハン (Onyomi), めし, いい (Kunyomi)
Meaning: Meal, Cooked rice
The kanji 飯 combines 食 (shoku), meaning “food” or “to eat,” with 反 (han), which implies “to return” or “to reverse.” This combination suggests the act of scooping or serving, thus representing cooked grains or a meal.
View JLPT N4 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 飯 consists of 12 strokes. It starts with the radical 食 (food) on the left side, followed by the 反 component on the right. Pay close attention to the order and direction of each stroke, especially the top horizontal strokes and the final sweeping stroke for proper balance and flow.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 食 |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 12 |
| JLPT Level | N4 |
| Grade | 3 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ハン (Han)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- めし (meshi)
- いい (ii)
Common Words Using 飯
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ご飯 | ごはん | cooked rice, meal |
| 朝ご飯 | あさごはん | breakfast |
| 昼ご飯 | ひるごはん | lunch |
| 晩ご飯 | ばんごはん | dinner |
| 炊飯器 | すいはんき | rice cooker |
| 飯盒 | はんごう | mess kit |
| 洋飯 | ようはん | Western meal |
| 中華飯 | ちゅうかはん | Chinese-style rice dish |
| 飯台 | はんだい | sushi rice mixing bowl |
| 飯場 | はんば | workers’ mess hall |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 飯 | めし | meal, cooked rice (colloquial) |
| 朝飯 | あさめし | breakfast (colloquial) |
| 昼飯 | ひるめし | lunch (colloquial) |
| 晩飯 | ばんめし | dinner (colloquial) |
| 飯事 | ままごと | playing house, playing cooking |
| 強飯 | こわめし | sticky rice |
| 炊き立ての飯 | たきたてのめし | freshly cooked rice |
| 食い飯 | くいめし | food, means of livelihood (colloquial) |
| まずい飯 | まずいめし | bad-tasting food |
| 独り飯 | ひとりめし | eating alone (colloquial) |
Example Sentences
Japanese: ご飯を食べましたか？
Kana: ごはんをたべましたか？
Romaji: Gohan o tabemashita ka?
English: Did you eat your meal?
Japanese: 美味しいご飯が食べたいです。
Kana: おいしいごはんがたべたいです。
Romaji: Oishii gohan ga tabetai desu.
English: I want to eat delicious rice/meal.
Japanese: 朝ご飯は何にしますか？
Kana: あさごはんがなににしますか？
Romaji: Asagohan wa nani ni shimasu ka?
English: What will you have for breakfast?
Japanese: 炊飯器でご飯を炊きます。
Kana: すいはんきでごはんをたきます。
Romaji: Suihanki de gohan o takimasu.
English: I cook rice with a rice cooker.
Japanese: 今日の昼ご飯はカレーです。
Kana: きょうのひるごはんはカレーです。
Romaji: Kyō no hirugohan wa karē desu.
English: Today’s lunch is curry.
Japanese: 彼はもう飯を食ったよ。
Kana: かれはもうめしをくったよ。
Romaji: Kare wa mō meshi o kutta yo.
English: He already ate his meal. (colloquial)
Japanese: 熱いご飯をどうぞ。
Kana: あついごはんをどうぞ。
Romaji: Atsui gohan o dōzo.
English: Please have some hot rice.
Japanese: 晩ご飯の準備ができました。
Kana: ばんごはんのじゅんびができました。
Romaji: Bangohan no junbi ga dekimashita.
English: Dinner is ready.
Japanese: 子供たちが飯事をして遊んでいます。
Kana: こどもたちがままごとをしてあそんでいます。
Romaji: Kodomotachi ga mamagoto o shite asonde imasu.
English: The children are playing house/cooking.
Japanese: この店はご飯がとても美味しいです。
Kana: このみせはごはんがとてもおいしいです。
Romaji: Kono mise wa gohan ga totemo oishii desu.
English: The rice/food at this restaurant is very delicious.
Related Grammar & kanji list
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