1. Kanji Breakdown: 車
This kanji represents a fundamental means of transportation and a common modern object.
Meaning: Vehicle, car; wheel.
Reading:
Onyomi (Sino-Japanese reading): シャ (sha)
Kunyomi (Native Japanese reading): くるま (kuruma)
The kanji is a pictograph (象形文字). Its original form was a top-down view of a chariot or a cart, clearly showing the body of the vehicle, its axle, and two wheels on either side. Over time, this pictograph was stylized into its current, symmetrical form.
2. Stroke Order and Writing
Learning the correct stroke order is crucial for balanced and beautiful kanji. "車" has 7 strokes.
Here is the stroke order diagram and explanation:
Total Strokes: 7
Start with the top horizontal stroke. (From left to right)
The left vertical stroke. (From top to bottom)
The right vertical stroke. (From top to bottom)
The middle horizontal stroke. (From left to right, cutting through the center)
The bottom horizontal stroke. (From left to right)
The left lower vertical stroke. (A short stroke upwards from the bottom-left)
The right lower vertical stroke. (A short stroke upwards from the bottom-right)
Key Writing Tips:
Write from top to bottom, left to right.
The character should be symmetrical and well-proportioned.
The central horizontal stroke (stroke 4) is the axle and should be centered.
The final two short vertical strokes (strokes 6 & 7) represent the parts of the wheels touching the ground and are essential for the character's stability.
3. Vocabulary and Example Sentences
Here are some common words using "車" and how to use them in sentences.
Vocabulary
車 (くるま, kuruma)
Meaning: Car, vehicle.
Example: 新しい車を買いました。
Romaji: Atarashii kuruma o kaimashita.
English: I bought a new car.
自転車 (じてんしゃ, jitensha)
Meaning: Bicycle (literally, "self-rolling vehicle").
Example: 学校まで自転車で行きます。
Romaji: Gakkō made jitensha de ikimasu.
English: I go to school by bicycle.
電車 (でんしゃ, densha)
Meaning: Train, electric train.
Example: 電車で通勤しています。
Romaji: Densha de tsūkin shite imasu.
English: I commute by train.
自動車 (じどうしゃ, jidōsha)
Meaning: Automobile, car (more formal than 車).
例文: 自動車産業はこの町の基幹産業だ。
Romaji: Jidōsha sangyō wa kono machi no kikan sangyō da.
English: The automobile industry is the key industry of this town.
駐車場 (ちゅうしゃじょう, chūshajō)
Meaning: Parking lot.
Example: あのビルに駐車場があります。
Romaji: Ano biru ni chūshajō ga arimasu.
English: There is a parking lot in that building.
火の車 (ひのくるま, hi no kuruma)
Meaning: A state of financial difficulty; being hard up for money (literally, "a fiery chariot," an idiom from Buddhism).
Example: 家のローンで家計は火の車だ。
Romaji: Ie no rōn de kakei wa hi no kuruma da.
English: With the mortgage, our finances are in a desperate state ("a fiery chariot").
Summary
Kanji: 車
Core Meaning: Car, Vehicle, Wheel.
Readings: On'yomi シャ (sha), Kun'yomi くるま (kuruma)
Stroke Order: 7 strokes. Remember its origin as a pictograph of a chariot with two wheels.
This kanji is absolutely essential for modern daily life in Japan. By mastering its simple and symmetrical stroke order and vocabulary, you will be able to correctly write and use this fundamental character.