起: the kanji for get up, wake, occur
起 is a JLPT N4 kanji that means get up, wake, occur. Below are its readings, 10 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
起 is written in 10 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
起 has 4 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 10 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
キ (ki)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 起床きしょう · kishō | getting up |
| 起立きりつ · kiritsu | standing up |
| 起業きぎょう · kigyō | starting a business |
| 起動きどう · kidō | starting up (a computer) |
| 提起ていき · teiki | raising (an issue) |
| 縁起えんぎ · engi | omen; luck |
おきる (okiru)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 起きるおきる · okiru | to get up; to happen |
| 早起きはやおき · hayaoki | getting up early |
おこる (okoru)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 起こるおこる · okoru | to happen; to occur |
おこす (okosu)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 起こすおこす · okosu | to wake (someone); to cause |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 毎朝六時に起きます。Maiasa rokuji ni okimasu.I get up at six every morning.
- パソコンが起動しません。Pasokon ga kidō shimasen.My computer won't start up.
- 何か問題が起きたら、すぐ連絡してください。Nanika mondai ga okitara, sugu renraku shite kudasai.If any problem comes up, contact me right away.
- 三十歳で起業しました。Sanjussai de kigyō shimashita.I started my own business at thirty.
- 明日の朝、七時に起こしてください。Ashita no asa, shichiji ni okoshite kudasai.Please wake me up at seven tomorrow morning.
- 日本では地震がよく起こります。Nihon de wa jishin ga yoku okorimasu.Earthquakes happen often in Japan.
Questions about 起
How many strokes does 起 have?
起 is written in 10 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 起?
The on readings are ki (キ). The kun readings are okiru (おきる), okoru (おこる), okosu (おこす).
What is the difference between 起きる and 起こる?
起きる (okiru) means to get up, and also to happen. 起こる (okoru) only means to happen or occur. Both work in 問題が起きる and 問題が起こる, "a problem occurs."
What JLPT level is 起?
N4. 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 N4 is designed to match the former Level 3.
More JLPT N4 kanji
Movement and actions
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 起
- 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.