Readings: セイ・ショウ (Onyomi), いきる・うまれる・なま (Kunyomi)
Meaning: life, to live, to be born, raw
The kanji 生 is a highly versatile character. It appears in many words related to life, birth, living, and raw things. It’s one of the most frequently used kanji in beginner-level Japanese.
View JLPT N5 Kanji ListKanji Details
| Radical | 生 (life) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 5 |
| JLPT Level | N5 |
| Grade | 1st Grade |
Readings
| Onyomi | セイ・ショウ |
|---|---|
| Kunyomi | いきる・うまれる・なま |
How to Write – Stroke Order
生 has 5 strokes. It visually represents something sprouting from the earth — symbolizing birth or life.
Example Sentences
Japanese: 私は東京で生まれました。
Kana: わたしはとうきょうでうまれました。
Romaji: Watashi wa Toukyou de umaremashita.
English: I was born in Tokyo.
Japanese: 魚を生で食べます。
Kana: さかなをなまでたべます。
Romaji: Sakana o nama de tabemasu.
English: I eat fish raw.
Japanese: 先生は日本人です。
Kana: せんせいはにほんじんです。
Romaji: Sensei wa nihonjin desu.
English: The teacher is Japanese.
Vocabulary Using 生
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 生まれる | うまれる | to be born |
| 生きる | いきる | to live |
| 生 | なま | raw |
| 先生 | せんせい | teacher |
| 人生 | じんせい | life |
🔗 N5 Grammar & Vocabulary
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