酒: the kanji for alcohol
酒 is a JLPT N3 kanji that means alcohol. Below are its readings, 2 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
酒 is written in 10 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
酒 has 3 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 2 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
シュ (shu)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 日本酒にほんしゅ · nihonshu | Japanese sake … |
さけ (sake)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| お酒おさけ · osake | alcohol; sake |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 日本酒を少し飲みました。Nihonshu o sukoshi nomimashita.I drank a little Japanese sake.
- お酒はあまり飲みません。Osake wa amari nomimasen.I don't drink much alcohol.
- 夕食の後にお酒を飲んだ。Yūshoku no ato ni osake o nonda.I drank alcohol after dinner.
- 日本酒の作り方を教わった。Nihonshu no tsukurikata o osowatta.I was taught how to make Japanese sake.
- 結婚式でお酒で乾杯した。Kekkonshiki de osake de kanpai shita.We toasted with sake at the wedding.
Questions about 酒
How many strokes does 酒 have?
酒 is written in 10 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 酒?
The on readings are shu (シュ). The kun readings are sake (さけ), saka (さか).
What JLPT level is 酒?
N3. 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 N3 falls between the former Levels 2 and 3.
More JLPT N3 kanji
Nature, food and animals
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 酒
- 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.