火
火 represents fire. Its shape depicts flames rising upward, making it one of the most visually intuitive kanji.
Reading
On’yomi: カ (ka)
Kun’yomi: ひ (hi), ほ- (ho-)
Basic Information
| Kanji | 火 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | fire |
| Stroke Count | 4 |
| JLPT Level | N5 |
How to Understand This Kanji
火 refers to fire itself but also appears in 火曜日 (Tuesday), since the Japanese days of the week are named after the five classical elements: fire, water, wood, metal, and earth.
Common Words
- 火（ひ / hi） — fire, flame
- 火曜日（かようび / kayōbi） — Tuesday
- 花火（はなび / hanabi） — fireworks
- 火事（かじ / kaji） — fire (disaster), house fire
- 火山（かざん / kazan） — volcano
- 点火（てんか / tenka） — ignition, lighting a fire
Example Sentences
-
夏に花火を見ました。
なつにはなびをみました。 / Natsu ni hanabi o mimashita.
I watched fireworks in summer.
-
火曜日に授業があります。
かようびにじゅぎょうがあります。 / Kayōbi ni jugyō ga arimasu.
I have class on Tuesday.
-
火事に気をつけてください。
かじにきをつけてください。 / Kaji ni ki o tsukete kudasai.
Please be careful about fires.
When Learners Usually See This Kanji
火 is one of the five elements (五行) alongside 水 (water), 木 (wood), 金 (metal), and 土 (earth). Learning these five helps you memorize the Japanese days of the week all at once.
Summary
火 means ‘fire’ and is key for fire-related safety vocabulary and for learning the Japanese days of the week.