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Kotomora

書

write

JLPTN5StatusJōyō · grade 2FrequencyTop 200Strokes10

Readings

On'yomi

  • ショ

Kun'yomi

  • か.く
  • -が.き
  • -がき

Nanori

  • かき

Meaning

書 centers on the act of writing: putting marks down to record or communicate. It extends naturally to written works like books and documents.

Most common words using 書

24 of 1,223
  • 書くかく
    N5

    to write; to compose; to pen

  • 書籍しょせき
    N2

    book; publication

  • 文書ぶんしょ
    N2

    document; writing; letter; papers; notes; records; archives

  • 図書館としょかん
    N5

    library

  • 書類しょるい
    N4

    document; papers

  • 書店しょてん
    N2

    bookshop; bookstore

  • 教科書きょうかしょ
    N3

    textbook; coursebook; schoolbook

  • 読書どくしょ
    N3

    reading (books)

  • 秘書ひしょ
    N3

    (private) secretary

  • 聖書せいしょ
    N1

    Bible; the Scriptures; Holy Writ

  • 書き込みかきこみ
    N1

    writing

  • 落書きらくがき
    N2

    scrawl; scribble; graffiti; doodle

  • 辞書じしょ
    N5

    dictionary; lexicon

  • 著書ちょしょ
    N1

    (written) work; book; writings

  • 手書きてがき
    N2

    handwriting

  • 図書としょ
    N3

    books

  • 書き方かきかた
    N1

    way of writing; manner of writing

  • 新書しんしょ
    N1

    new book

  • 本書ほんしょ

    main text

  • 葉書はがき
    N5

    postcard

  • 公文書こうぶんしょ

    official document; archives

  • 書物しょもつ
    N3

    book; volume

  • 書道しょどう
    N2

    calligraphy (esp. Asian calligraphy based on Chinese characters)

  • 肩書きかたがき
    N3

    title (e.g. Doctor, Professor, Lord); job title; position (in a company); degree; status; rank

Explore all words using 書 →

Study

Etymology

書 combines 聿 (a hand holding a brush) with 曰 (to speak), suggesting writing down spoken words. The modern form preserves this brush-and-speech idea.

Meaning mnemonic

The top 聿 looks like a hand holding a brush, and the bottom 曰 represents words. Picture a hand writing down spoken words with a brush: that is 書, to write.

Reading mnemonic

For ショ, imagine a show where a calligrapher writes beautiful characters on stage: show -> ショ, and the brush dances across the paper.