士: the kanji for gentleman; warrior; qualified person
士 is a JLPT N1 kanji that means gentleman; warrior; qualified person. Below are its readings, 5 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
士 is written in 3 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
士 has 1 reading in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 4 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
シ (shi)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 弁護士べんごし · bengoshi | lawyer |
| 紳士しんし · shinshi | gentleman |
| 武士ぶし · bushi | samurai; warrior |
| 力士りきし · rikishi | sumo wrestler |
Special readings to learn as whole words
These words use 士, but their readings do not follow the readings above. The Jōyō Kanji Table lists them as special readings. Learn each one as a whole word.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 博士はかせ · hakase | doctor (PhD); expert |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 父は弁護士として働いている。Chichi wa bengoshi to shite hataraite iru.My father works as a lawyer.
- 彼は本当の紳士だ。Kare wa hontō no shinshi da.He is a true gentleman.
- 昔の武士は刀を持っていた。Mukashi no bushi wa katana o motte ita.Warriors in the old days carried swords.
- 力士が土俵に上がった。Rikishi ga dohyō ni agatta.The sumo wrestler stepped into the ring.
- 博士が新しい研究を発表した。Hakase ga atarashii kenkyū o happyō shita.The doctor announced new research.
Questions about 士
How many strokes does 士 have?
士 is written in 3 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 士?
The on readings are shi (シ). 士 has no kun reading in the Jōyō Kanji Table.
What JLPT level is 士?
N1. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N1 is designed to match the former Level 1.
More JLPT N1 kanji
People and relationships
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 士
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.