茎: the kanji for stem; stalk
茎 is a JLPT N1 kanji that means stem; stalk. Below are its readings, 3 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
茎 is written in 8 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
茎 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).
ケイ (kei)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 地下茎ちかけい · chikakei | rhizome |
| 球茎きゅうけい · kyūkei | corm |
くき (kuki)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 茎くき · kuki | stem |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 花の茎が折れてしまった。Hana no kuki ga orete shimatta.The flower's stem broke.
- 竹は地下茎で増える。Take wa chikakei de fueru.Bamboo spreads through its underground stems.
- この野菜は茎も食べられる。Kono yasai wa kuki mo taberareru.You can eat the stems of this vegetable too.
- 茎を斜めに切って花瓶に入れた。Kuki o naname ni kitte kabin ni ireta.I cut the stems at an angle and put them in a vase.
- 里芋は球茎の一種だ。Satoimo wa kyūkei no isshu da.Taro is a type of corm.
Questions about 茎
How many strokes does 茎 have?
茎 is written in 8 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 茎?
The on readings are kei (ケイ). The kun readings are kuki (くき).
What JLPT level is 茎?
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
Nature, weather 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 茎
- 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.