生 means “life / raw”

Watch: Gen and Shibamaru learn 生

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Where 生 comes from

生 is a picture of a young plant growing out of the ground.

Stroke order (5 strokes)

1. 1
2. 2
3. 3
4. 4
5. 5

Words with 生

• 

  先生せんせい

  SENSEI

  teacher

• 

  学生がくせい

  GAKUSEI

  student

• 

  生まれるうまれる

  UMARERU

  to be born

• 

  生ビールなまビール

  NAMABIIRU

  draft beer

• 

  一年生いちねんせい

  ICHINENSEI

  first-year student

The part of each word written with 生 is shown in orange. Audio: the readings from our video.

Reading tips

• 先生 (SENSEI, teacher) and 学生 (GAKUSEI, student) both use セイ (SEI).
• 生 read なま (NAMA) means "raw" or "fresh": 生ビール (NAMABIIRU, draft beer), 生たまご (NAMATAMAGO, raw egg).
• In 誕生日 (TANJOUBI, birthday), 生 is read じょう (JOU).

Other readings of 生

• ショウ一生 いっしょう ISSHOU a lifetime
• い(きる)生きる いきる IKIRU to live
• い(かす)生かす いかす IKASU to make use of
• い(ける)生け花 いけばな IKEBANA flower arranging
• う(む)生む うむ UMU to give birth
• お(う)生い立ち おいたち OITACHI one's upbringing
• は(える)生える はえる HAERU to grow (grass, hair)
• は(やす)生やす はやす HAYASU to grow (a beard)
• き生糸 きいと KIITO raw silk

These readings are not in the video. You will meet them later.

In the video

• Genビールだ！Beer!
• Shibamaru日本では おさけは はたちからだよIn Japan, you can drink from age 20.
• Genおれも のみたい！I want to drink it too!

In Japan you have to be 20 to drink alcohol, so the 生ビール is not for Gen.

Example sentences

• わたしは 大学生です。

  WATASHI WA DAIGAKUSEI DESU.

  I am a university student.

• どこで 生まれましたか。

  DOKO DE UMAREMASHITA KA.

  Where were you born?

Keep learning kanji

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• Remembering the Kanji 1

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