日常生活の漢字 (N4 Kanji Part 1: Everyday Life)
Learning objectives
- Master N4 kanji related to the physical body and mental states (心, 目, 耳, 手, 足).
- Identify essential kanji for meals and ingredients (飯, 牛, 魚).
- Understand verbs of motion and daily habits in kanji form.
- Learn about Japanese eating etiquette and cultural expressions.
Welcome to the N4 level! Now that you have mastered the foundational N5 kanji, it is time to expand your vocabulary with characters you will encounter every single day in Japan. This chapter focuses on the human body, the food we eat, and the actions that define our daily routines.
1. The Human Body & Mind (体と心)
Understanding the body is essential for health, fashion, and expressing feelings. We start with the core physical parts and the “heart” or “mind” (心).
On'yomi
タイ、テイ
Kun'yomi
からだ
Examples
- body
体【からだ】
- physical education
体育【たいいく】
- physical strength
体力【たいりょく】
On'yomi
トウ、ズ、ト
Kun'yomi
あたま
Examples
- head
頭【あたま】
- headache
頭痛【ずつう】
- the head/front
先頭【せんとう】
On'yomi
ガン
Kun'yomi
かお
Examples
- face
顔【かお】
- face washing
洗顔【せんがん】
- smiling face
笑顔【えがお】
On'yomi
セイ、ショウ
Kun'yomi
こえ
Examples
- voice
声【こえ】
- loud voice
大声【おおごえ】
- sound/audio
音声【おんせい】
On'yomi
シン
Kun'yomi
こころ
Examples
- heart
心【こころ】
- relief/peace of mind
安心【あんしん】
- center
中心【ちゅうしん】
On'yomi
モク、ボク
Kun'yomi
め
Examples
- eye
目【め】
- purpose
目的【もくてき】
- the first day
一日目【いちにちめ】
On'yomi
ジ
Kun'yomi
みみ
Examples
- ear
耳【みみ】
- ENT clinic
耳鼻科【じびか】
- hearing for the first time
初耳【はつみみ】
On'yomi
シュ
Kun'yomi
て
Examples
- hand
手【て】
- skillful
上手【じょうず】
- unskillful
下手【へた】
On'yomi
ソク
Kun'yomi
あし、た・りる
Examples
- foot/leg
足【あし】
- to be sufficient
足りる【たりる】
- excursion
遠足【えんそく】
最近、体が少し重いです。
Saikin, karada ga sukoshi omoi desu.
Recently, my body feels a bit heavy.
彼は頭がいいし、心も広いです。
Kare wa atama ga ii shi, kokoro mo hiroi desu.
He is smart and also broad-minded (generous).
手を洗ってから、目と耳をチェックしてください。
Te o aratte kara, me to mimi o chekku shite kudasai.
Please wash your hands, then check your eyes and ears.
大きな声で話すと、足が痛くなるのを忘れます。
Ookina koe de hanasu to, ashi ga itaku naru no o wasuremasu.
When I talk in a loud voice, I forget that my feet are starting to hurt.
寒いので、顔と耳が赤くなりました。
Samui node, kao to mimi ga akaku narimashita.
Because it's cold, my face and ears turned red.
体育の授業で、手足の運動をしました。
Taiiku no jugyou de, teashi no undou o shimashita.
In the physical education class, we did hand and foot exercises.
日本へ行く目的は、有名な建築を見ることです。
Nihon e iku mokuteki wa, yuumeina kenchiku o miru koto desu.
The purpose of going to Japan is to see famous architecture.
テストの結果を見て、安心しました。
Tesuto no kekka o mite, anshin shimashita.
I felt relieved after seeing the test results.
2. Food & Drink (飲食)
Food is the soul of culture. These kanji will help you navigate menus and talk about your favorite meals.
On'yomi
ニク
Kun'yomi
-
Examples
- meat
肉【にく】
- beef
牛肉【ぎゅうにく】
- pork
豚肉【ぶたにく】
On'yomi
ハン
Kun'yomi
めし
Examples
- meal/rice
ご飯【ごはん】
- dinner
夕飯【ゆうはん】
- breakfast (informal)
朝飯【あさめし】
On'yomi
ギュウ
Kun'yomi
うし
Examples
- cow
牛【うし】
- beef
牛肉【ぎゅうにく】
- milk
牛乳【ぎゅうにゅう】
On'yomi
ギョ
Kun'yomi
さかな、うお
Examples
- fish
魚【さかな】
- goldfish
金魚【きんぎょ】
- grilled fish
焼き魚【やきざかな】
On'yomi
チャ、サ
Kun'yomi
-
Examples
- tea (green tea)
お茶【おちゃ】
- black tea
紅茶【こうちゃ】
- brown
茶色【ちゃいろ】
On'yomi
ヤ
Kun'yomi
の
Examples
- vegetable
野菜【やさい】
- field (of study)
分野【ぶんや】
- Nagano (prefecture)
長野【ながの】
On'yomi
サイ
Kun'yomi
な
Examples
- vegetable
野菜【やさい】
- Chinese cabbage
白菜【はくさい】
- side dish
総菜【そうざい】
ご飯
ごはん
Noungohan
Meal / Cooked rice
牛肉
ぎゅうにく
Noungyuuniku
Beef
魚料理
さかなりょうり
Nounsakanaryouri
Fish dish
野菜
やさい
Nounyasai
Vegetable
お茶
おちゃ
Nounocha
Green tea
日本人は毎日ご飯と魚を食べます。
Nihonjin wa mainichi gohan to sakana o tabemasu.
Japanese people eat rice and fish every day.
牛肉は高いですが、とても美味しいです。
Gyuuniku wa takai desu ga, totemo oishii desu.
Beef is expensive, but it is very delicious.
野菜をたくさん食べて、温かいお茶を飲みましょう。
Yasai o takusan tabete, atatakai ocha o nomimashou.
Let's eat lots of vegetables and drink warm tea.
夕飯には焼き魚と白菜のスープを食べました。
Yuuhan ni wa yakizakana to hakusai no suupu o tabemashita.
For dinner, I ate grilled fish and napa cabbage soup.
朝ご飯に冷たい牛乳を一杯飲みました。
Asagohan ni tsumetai gyuunyuu o ippai nomimashita.
I drank a glass of cold milk for breakfast.
紅茶よりお茶のほうが好きです。
Koucha yori ocha no hou ga suki desu.
I like green tea more than black tea.
分野を問わず、色々な野菜を食べることが大切です。
Bunya o towazu, iroirona yasai o taberu koto ga taisetsu desu.
Regardless of the type, it is important to eat various vegetables.
3. Movement and Actions (行動)
These verbs describe the physical movements we make throughout the day.
On'yomi
ソウ
Kun'yomi
はし・る
Examples
- to run
走る【はしる】
- race
競走【きょうそう】
On'yomi
ホ、ブ、フ
Kun'yomi
ある・く、あゆ・む
Examples
- to walk
歩く【あるく】
- a stroll/walk
散歩【さんぽ】
- sidewalk
歩道【ほどう】
On'yomi
キ
Kun'yomi
お・きる、お・こす
Examples
- to wake up
起きる【おきる】
- early rising
早起き【はやおき】
On'yomi
シン
Kun'yomi
ね・る、ね・かす
Examples
- to sleep
寝る【ねる】
- nap
昼寝【ひるね】
- bedroom
寝室【しんしつ】
毎朝、六時に起きて公園を走ります。
Maiasa, rokuji ni okite kouen o hashirimasu.
Every morning, I wake up at six and run in the park.
夜、寝る前に少し歩きます。
Yoru, neru mae ni sukoshi arukimasu.
At night, I walk a little before going to sleep.
昼寝をすると、体が元気になります。
Hirune o suru to, karada ga genki ni narimasu.
When I take a nap, my body becomes energetic.
車が多いので、歩道を歩いてください。
Kuruma ga ooi node, hodou o aruite kudasai.
Because there are many cars, please walk on the sidewalk.
友達と公園で競走をしました。
Tomodachi to kouen de kyousou o shimashita.
I had a race with my friend in the park.
寝室で静かに寝たいです。
Shinshitsu de shizuka ni netai desu.
I want to sleep quietly in the bedroom.
早起きをして、美味しい朝ご飯を食べましょう。
Hayaoki o shite, oishii asagohan o tabemashou.
Let's wake up early and eat a delicious breakfast.
4. Cultural Note: Japanese Eating Etiquette
In Japan, showing gratitude for food is deeply ingrained in the culture. It is not just about manners; it’s about acknowledging the life that was given and the effort of those who prepared the meal.
Itadakimasu (いただきます)
Before starting a meal, Japanese people put their hands together and say Itadakimasu. This literally translates to “I humbly receive.” It expresses gratitude to the plants, animals, farmers, and cooks.
Gochisousama deshita (ごちそうさまでした)
After finishing, the phrase Gochisousama deshita is used. The kanji for Gochisou (御馳走) includes the characters for “run” (走), implying that the host “ran around” to gather and prepare the best ingredients for the guest. It is a sign of respect and appreciation for the “feast.”
Key Etiquette Tips:
- Chopstick Rest: Always place your chopsticks on a hashioki (rest) or across the side of your plate when not in use.
- Lifting Bowls: It is polite to lift small rice or miso soup bowls to your chest while eating to avoid spilling.
Contextual Dialogues
Dialogue 1: Lunch Break (昼休み)
鈴木さん、お昼ご飯を食べに行きましょう。
Suzuki-san, ohirugohan o tabe ni ikimashou.
Suzuki, let's go eat lunch.
いいですね。何を食べたいですか。肉ですか、魚ですか。
Ii desu ne. Nani o tabetai desu ka. Niku desu ka, sakana desu ka.
Sounds good. What do you want to eat? Meat? Fish?
最近、少し体が重いので、野菜をたくさん食べたいです。
Saikin, sukoshi karada ga omoi node, yasai o takusan tabetai desu.
Recently, my body feels a bit heavy, so I want to eat lots of vegetables.
わかります。じゃあ、あの新しいサラダのお店まで歩いていきませんか。
Wakarimasu. Jaa, ano atarashii sarada no omise made aruite ikimasen ka.
I understand. Then, how about walking to that new salad place?
はい、そうしましょう！喉が渇いたので、冷たいお茶も飲みたいです。
Hai, sou shimashou! Nodo ga kawaita node, tsumetai ocha mo nomitai desu.
Yes, let's do that! I'm thirsty, so I also want to drink cold tea.
Dialogue 2: Health & Physical Exercise (健康と運動)
キムさん、最近、体がとても丈夫そうですね。
Kimu-san, saikin, karada ga totemo joubu sou desu ne.
Kim, your body looks very strong recently.
ありがとうございます。毎朝、早起きして三十分走っています。
Arigatou gozaimasu. Maiasa, hayaoki shite sanjuppun hashitte imasu.
Thank you. Every morning I wake up early and run for 30 minutes.
すごいですね。私は足がすぐ痛くなるので、ゆっくり歩くだけです。
Sugoi desu ne. Watashi wa ashi ga sugu itaku naru node, yukkuri aruku dake desu.
That's great. My feet hurt easily, so I just walk slowly.
歩くのもいいですよ。心に無理をしないで、楽しんでください。
Aruku no mo ii desu yo. Kokoro ni muri o shinaide, tanoshinde kudasai.
Walking is also good. Don't push your mind too hard; just enjoy it.
そうですね。運動の後は、いつも水を飲んでよく寝ます。
Sou desu ne. Undou no ato wa, itsumo mizu o nonde yoku nemasu.
You're right. After exercise, I always drink water and sleep well.
Chapter Summary
- 1Body kanji include physical parts like 頭 (head) and 顔 (face), but also mental states via 心 (heart/mind).
- 2Meals center around 飯 (rice/meal), 肉 (meat), and 魚 (fish).
- 3Daily actions are represented by verbs like 走る (run), 歩く (walk), 起きる (wake up), and 寝る (sleep).
- 4Expressions like 'Itadakimasu' and 'Gochisousama' are vital for showing gratitude in Japanese culture.
- 5Kanji combinations often describe functions, such as 牛肉 (beef) or 笑顔 (smiling face).
Knowledge Check
Test your understanding of the N4 kanji and cultural notes from this chapter!
Which kanji means both 'heart' and 'mind'?
Which kanji means both 'heart' and 'mind'?
- A体
- B心
- C頭
- D声
Select the correct reading for '魚'.
- Aさかな
- Bにく
- Cやさい
- Dあし
What does the phrase 'Itadakimasu' literally mean?
- AThank you for the food
- BI humbly receive
- CLet's eat
- DIt was a feast
Which kanji represents 'hand'?
- A足
- B目
- C耳
- D手
What is the reading for 'ご飯'?
- Aあさめし
- Bゆうはん
- Cごはん
- Dめし
Choose the kanji for 'to walk'.
- A走る
- B歩く
- C起きる
- D寝る
What is the meaning of '牛肉' (gyuuniku)?
- APork
- BChicken
- CFish
- DBeef
Which kanji is used in '散歩' (stroll)?
- A走
- B歩
- C起
- D寝
What is '目'?
- AEar
- BEye
- CFace
- DHead
What does 'Gochisousama' acknowledge?
- AThe weather
- BThe price of food
- CThe effort of preparation
- DThe size of the portion
Which word means 'headache'?
- A足痛
- B心痛
- C耳痛
- D頭痛
Identify the reading for '足'.
- Aて
- Bめ
- Cあし
- Dみみ
What is '早起き'?
- ASleeping late
- BEarly rising
- CRunning fast
- DEating quickly
Which kanji means 'ear'?
- A目
- B手
- C耳
- D足
In the second dialogue, what does Kim do every morning?
- ASleeps late
- BEats beef
- CWakes up early and runs
- DWalks slowly
Applied review
Use what you learned
Focus: Everyday kanji in context. Try the task before revealing the model.
Produce the Japanese sentence, then compare it with the model answer.
1.Use 体 and 心 in a natural health sentence.
Everyday kanji in context in context
N4 mini-reading
- What two changes occurred?