火: the kanji for fire
火 is a JLPT N5 kanji that means fire. Below are its readings, 9 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
火 is written in 4 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
火 has 3 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 9 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
カ (ka)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 火曜日かようび · kayōbi | Tuesday |
| 火事かじ · kaji | fire (in a building) |
| 火災かさい · kasai | fire (formal) |
| 火山かざん · kazan | volcano |
| 消火器しょうかき · shōkaki | fire extinguisher |
| 発火はっか · hakka | catching fire |
| 点火てんか · tenka | lighting; ignition |
ひ (hi)
Kun reading. It becomes bi at the end of some words.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 火をつけるひをつける · hi o tsukeru | to light a fire |
| 花火はなび · hanabi | fireworks |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 火曜日に打ち合わせがあります。Kayōbi ni uchiawase ga arimasu.I have a meeting on Tuesday.
- 夏に花火大会があります。Natsu ni hanabi taikai ga arimasu.There's a fireworks festival in the summer.
- 火事のときは階段を使ってください。Kaji no toki wa kaidan o tsukatte kudasai.In case of fire, please use the stairs.
- 消火器は廊下にあります。Shōkaki wa rōka ni arimasu.The fire extinguisher is in the hallway.
- 料理の火を止めてください。Ryōri no hi o tomete kudasai.Please turn off the heat under the pan.
- 火災保険に入りました。Kasai hoken ni hairimashita.I took out fire insurance.
Questions about 火
How many strokes does 火 have?
火 is written in 4 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 火?
The on readings are ka (カ). The kun readings are hi (ひ), ho (ほ).
What is the difference between 火事 and 火災?
Both mean a fire that damages a building. 火事 (kaji) is everyday Japanese. 火災 (kasai) is more formal and is used in the news and in insurance, as in 火災保険 (kasai hoken, fire insurance).
What JLPT level is 火?
N5. 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 N5 is designed to match the former Level 4.
More JLPT N5 kanji
Days and time
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 火
- 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.