UNIT 1 - Number Kanji and Vocabs

During the first unit of Kanji, we learn to write the numbers 1 thru 10. Here they are, written with the correct stroke order and some memory aids.

いち, に and さん are easy. Write every line from left to right and make sure the length of each stroke is similar! Like in 3, the line in the middle should be the shortest, followed by the top most line, and then the bottom most line. End the stroke a little higher than where it started for beauty.

し or よん. Start the stroke where each number is. First a vertical stroke down, then a cornered line on top, followed by a downwards sweep on the left, and a cornered 'L' shape next to it within the box. Close the box up at the bottom at the end.
A good way to remember that this is よん is by imagining a pictogram of a window, which is split into 4 windows, or maybe that with curtains.


When writing ご, make each line end a little higher for beauty as well. The third stroke has a sharp corner with no flow to it. Notice how it kind of looks like a 5?

ろく looks a lot like a stickman. A way to remember that this is six, is by knowing that you are 6 when you start your first learning year in Japan. Or so is how the memory aid goes they provided in class!
Make the 3rd stroke sweep to the left like so, and the 4th kind of tilted, and it's okay to make it a straight line too. For beauty, end the 2nd stroke a little higher than where it started.


The kanji for なな (or しち) looks like a 7 if you flip it horizontally and mirror it!
Make the first stroke angle up a bit for beauty when writing it, and stroke 2 also has a rough corner which does not have a lot of flow to it as a sweep does.


はち looks like a set of tentacles, if you use your imagination. An octopus has 8 tentacles.
Sweep the 1st stroke slightly towards the left, and the 2nd stroke slightly towards the right.


Stroke 1 sweeps towards the left, and stroke 2 starts with a horizontal line tilted upwards slightly, before forming a sharp corner, down into a softer sweep-like corner, when it comes to the kanji for きゅう or く.
The memory aid they provided for this in class is that it looks like a person doing push-ups on their knees. 'can you do 10 pushups? 'seven... eight... nine... no, I can't'.


じゅう looks like a cross. End stroke 1 with a little tilt for beauty. Christians would rate Jesus a 10/10?

Some new vocabulary from the lesson:

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