1. Kanji Breakdown: 風
Meaning: Wind, style, manner, custom, air. It can refer to the physical wind, but also extends to things that are "in the air," like trends, atmosphere, or a particular style.
Reading:
Onyomi (Sino-Japanese reading): フウ (fuu)
Kunyomi (Native Japanese reading): かぜ (kaze) / かざ (kaza)
2. Stroke Order and Writing
Learning the correct stroke order is crucial for balanced and beautiful kanji. "風" has 9 strokes.
Here is the stroke order diagram and explanation:
Total Strokes: 9
Start with the left vertical stroke. (From top to bottom)
The horizontal stroke from left to right, connecting at the top.
The right "hook" stroke. (This is one stroke that goes down and curves inwards)
The horizontal line inside the enclosure (left to right).
The left-falling diagonal stroke inside.
The dot at the bottom right inside the enclosure.
The long left-falling stroke that starts from the top-right and sweeps down.
The short right-falling stroke that crosses the previous one.
The final dot at the end of the sweeping stroke.
Key Writing Tips:
The outer frame is not a perfect square. It's wider at the top and tapers slightly at the bottom.
Pay attention to the internal strokes. The horizontal line (stroke 4) and the "X" shape (strokes 5 & 6) are key to the character's balance.
The final sweeping stroke (stroke 7) should be smooth and confident.
3. Vocabulary and Example Sentences
Here are some common words using "風" and how to use them in sentences.
Vocabulary
風 (かぜ, kaze)
Meaning: Wind, breeze.
Example: 今日は風が強いですね。
Romaji: Kyō wa kaze ga tsuyoi desu ne.
English: The wind is strong today, isn't it?
和風 (わふう, wafuu)
Meaning: Japanese style.
Example: この部屋は和風のインテリアだ。
Romaji: Kono heya wa wafuu no interia da.
English: This room has a Japanese-style interior.
台風 (たいふう, taifuu)
Meaning: Typhoon, hurricane.
Example: 台風のため、学校は休みです。
Romaji: Taifuu no tame, gakkō wa yasumi desu.
English: School is closed due to the typhoon.
風景 (ふうけい, fuukei)
Meaning: Scenery, landscape, view.
Example: 窓から美しい風景が見える。
Romaji: Mado kara utsukushii fuukei ga mieru.
English: You can see a beautiful scenery from the window.
風邪 (かぜ, kaze)
Meaning: A cold (illness). Note: This is a very important word that is pronounced the same as "wind" but uses a different kanji for "evil/spirit" (邪).
Example: 風邪をひいたので、早く寝ます。
Romaji: Kaze o hiita node, hayaku nemasu.
English: I caught a cold, so I will go to bed early.
風格 (ふうかく, fuukaku)
Meaning: Dignity, presence, character (of a person).
Example: あの先生は本当に風格がある。
Romaji: Ano sensei wa hontō ni fuukaku ga aru.
English: That teacher has real dignity / presence.
Summary
Kanji: 風
Core Meaning: Wind, Style, Manner. It bridges the physical and the cultural.
Readings: On'yomi フウ (fuu), Kun'yomi かぜ (kaze)
Stroke Order: 9 strokes. Focus on the unique outer frame and the internal "X" and dot.
By mastering the stroke order and learning these vocabulary words, you will be able to correctly write and use this versatile and common kanji. Keep practicing