Readings: ダイ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi)
Meaning: No., ordinal, in order, sequence
The kanji 第 combines 竹 (bamboo) and 弟 (younger brother/order). Historically, bamboo strips were used for writing, and 弟 signifies arrangement or sequence. Together, they imply “sequence” or “order,” giving rise to its meaning as an indicator for ordinal numbers.
View JLPT N2 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 第 consists of 11 strokes. It begins with the 竹 (bamboo) radical at the top, which is written in 6 strokes. Following this, the lower component 弟 is formed. The first stroke of 弟 is a vertical line on the left, followed by a horizontal line, and then another vertical line passing through it. Next, the three horizontal strokes on the right are written from top to bottom. Finally, the last two strokes complete the “bow” shape at the bottom right.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 竹 (たけ) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 11 |
| JLPT Level | N2 |
| Grade | Unassigned |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ダイ (Dai)
Common Words Using 第
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 第一 | だいいち | first; No. 1 |
| 第二 | だいに | second; No. 2 |
| 第三 | だいさん | third; No. 3 |
| 第五課 | だいごか | Lesson 5 |
| 第一線 | だいいっせん | front line; leading position |
| 第一人者 | だいいちにんしゃ | leading authority; foremost person |
| 第X回 | だいエックスかい | Xth time (e.g., 第１０回 – daijukkai – 10th time) |
| 第百 | だいひゃく | one hundredth |
| 第二次世界大戦 | だいにじせかいたいせん | World War II |
| 第五福竜丸 | だいごふくりゅうまる | Lucky Dragon 5 (name of a fishing boat) |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 彼はクラスで第一位になった。
Kana: かれはクラスでだいいちいになった。
Romaji: Kare wa kurasu de dai-ichi-i ni natta.
English: He came in first place in the class.
Japanese: これは私の第二の故郷です。
Kana: これはわたしのだいにのこきょうです。
Romaji: Kore wa watashi no daini no kokyou desu.
English: This is my second hometown.
Japanese: この小説は第三章まで読んだ。
Kana: このしょうせつはだいさんしょうまでよんだ。
Romaji: Kono shousetsu wa daisan-shou made yonda.
English: I’ve read this novel up to the third chapter.
Japanese: 彼女は日本のテニス界の第一人者です。
Kana: かのじょはにほんのテニスかいのだいいちにんしゃです。
Romaji: Kanojo wa Nihon no tenisu kai no daiichininsha desu.
English: She is the leading figure in the Japanese tennis world.
Japanese: これは第十回目の記念イベントです。
Kana: これはだいじっかいめのきねんイベントです。
Romaji: Kore wa daijikkai-me no kinen ibento desu.
English: This is the 10th anniversary event.
Japanese: 彼は世界で第一線の研究者だ。
Kana: かれはせかいでだいいっせんのけんきゅうしゃだ。
Romaji: Kare wa sekai de daiissen no kenkyuusha da.
English: He is a leading researcher in the world.
Japanese: このテストは第一問が一番難しかった。
Kana: このテストはだいいちもんがいちばんむずかしかった。
Romaji: Kono tesuto wa daiichimon ga ichiban muzukashikatta.
English: The first question of this test was the most difficult.
Japanese: 私たちは第二グループです。
Kana: わたしたちはだいにするーぷです。
Romaji: Watashitachi wa daini guruupu desu.
English: We are in the second group.
Japanese: 今日の授業は第六課です。
Kana: きょうのじゅぎょうはだいろくかです。
Romaji: Kyou no jugyou wa dairokuka desu.
English: Today’s lesson is Lesson 6.
Japanese: これは今世紀に入って第三の地震です。
Kana: これはこんせいきにはいってだいさんのじしんです。
Romaji: Kore wa kon seiki ni haitte daisan no jishin desu.
English: This is the third earthquake since the turn of this century.
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