臼: the kanji for mortar
臼 is a Jōyō kanji that means mortar. Below are its readings, 3 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
臼 is written in 6 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
臼 has 2 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 3 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
キュウ (kyuu)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 臼歯きゅうし · kyūshi | molar |
| 脱臼だっきゅう · dakkyū | dislocation (of a joint) |
うす (usu)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 臼うす · usu | mortar (for pounding rice) |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 餅つきに臼を使います。Mochitsuki ni usu o tsukaimasu.We use a mortar for pounding rice cakes.
- 転んで肩を脱臼しました。Koronde kata o dakkyū shimashita.I fell and dislocated my shoulder.
- 奥の臼歯に虫歯があります。Oku no kyūshi ni mushiba ga arimasu.There's a cavity in a back molar.
- 石臼でそば粉をひきます。Ishiusu de sobako o hikimasu.We grind buckwheat flour with a stone mill.
- 脱臼したら、すぐに病院へ行ってください。Dakkyū shitara, sugu ni byōin e itte kudasai.If you dislocate a joint, go to a hospital right away.
Questions about 臼
How many strokes does 臼 have?
臼 is written in 6 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 臼?
The on readings are kyuu (キュウ). The kun readings are usu (うす).
What JLPT level is 臼?
臼 is a Jōyō kanji, but it is not in the N5–N1 kanji lists on this site. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so other study materials may place 臼 at a JLPT level.
About the JLPT level
臼 is one of the 2,136 kanji in the official Jōyō Kanji Table, but it is not in the N5–N1 kanji lists on this site. The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. Our lists are a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009 and on the levels that several learning sites agree on, so other study materials may place 臼 at a JLPT level. See the list of Jōyō kanji outside our JLPT lists.
More Jōyō kanji
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Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 臼
- 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.