Quick answer
生 is the kanji for "Life". The most common reading is い.きる (ikiru). Mnemonics and example sentences are listed below.
Meaning
Life
Also : Birth · Genuine
Learn 生 with SRS
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Readings
kun = Japanese reading · on = Chinese reading
Practice writing
Trace the kanji stroke by stroke with a visual guide.
Stroke Order
5 strokes
Radicals
Memory Aid
A sprout pushing through soil — the top strokes are new leaves unfurling, the horizontal base is the ground, the vertical line is the stem pushing up through earth.
せい (sei) sounds like "say" — life says "Hello, I'm here!"
Example Sentences
学生は図書館で勉強しています。
がくせいはとしょかんでべんきょうしています。
The students are studying in the library.
私は東京で生まれました。
わたしはとうきょうでうまれました。
I was born in Tokyo.
Vocabulary using 生
Grammar to study at this level
Last updated Jun 18, 2026
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