Kanji: 甲 (Shell/First)
The kanji 甲 has multiple meanings, primarily "shell" (of a turtle or insect), "armor," and as the first in a sequence ("A" in rankings like甲乙). It also refers to the "instep" of the foot or can describe a "high-pitched" sound.
Key Reading:
On-yomi (Sino-Japanese reading): コウ (kō) / カン (kan)
Kun-yomi (Japanese reading): こう (kō)
Common Words & Usage:
甲羅 (kōra) - Noun. Shell (of a turtle/crab).
甲 (kō) - Noun. 1st in rank (甲乙丙... = A,B,C...).
装甲車 (sōkōsha) - Noun. Armored vehicle.
甲高い (kandakai) - I-adjective. Shrill, high-pitched (voice).
Example Sentence:
Japanese: 彼女は甲高い声で叫んだ。
Romaji: Kanojo wa kandakai koe de sakenda.
English: She screamed in a shrill voice.
Learning the correct stroke order for kanji like 甲 is essential for balanced, legible Japanese handwriting and is a fundamental part of mastering kanji writing.