Japanese Kanji

shi

the beginning · to start · to begin

Extended kanji · 6 strokes

Readings

  • ONshi
  • KUNはじ.めるhaji
  • KUNはじ.まるhaji

Meaning

The beginning, to start, to begin, to be the first.

乨 is a Extended kanji — used in Japanese personal names and specialised writing. With 6 strokes, it appears in classical literature, place names, and formal documents.

Learn to read Japanese

Start with hiragana and katakana — the foundation of Japanese reading.