Lesson L5N5N5 Kanji in Context⏱ 15 min

Verb-Root and Action Kanji

This lesson introduces kanji that serve as the root of everyday N5 action verbs. You will study readings, stroke order, and how these kanji combine with okurigana to form verbs like 行く (iku), 見る (miru), and 食べる (taberu). Focus on recognizing the kanji in verb contexts to build reading and writing skills.

🎯 Goal: Learn N5 kanji that appear as roots in common verbs (行く, 見る, 食べる, etc.).

Lesson Content

Learning Goal

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to recognize 6 essential N5 kanji that appear as roots in common Japanese verbs. You will learn their meanings, readings, and how they combine with hiragana to form everyday verbs like 行く (iku), 見る (miru), and 食べる (taberu).

Concept

In Japanese, many verbs are written with a kanji root followed by hiragana (okurigana). The kanji gives the core meaning, while the hiragana shows the verb's conjugation. For example, in 食べる (taberu), 食 is the root meaning "eat," and べる is the ending that changes with tense or politeness.

Step-by-Step Breakdown

1. 行 (iku / yuku) – "go"

Meaning: go, carry out
On'yomi (Chinese reading): コウ (kou)
Kun'yomi (Japanese reading): い (i) / ゆ (yu)
Common verb: 行く (iku) – to go
Example: 学校に行く (gakkou ni iku) – go to school

2. 見 (miru) – "see"

Meaning: see, look, watch
On'yomi: ケン (ken)
Kun'yomi: み (mi)
Common verb: 見る (miru) – to see
Example: テレビを見る (terebi o miru) – watch TV

3. 食 (taberu) – "eat"

Meaning: eat, food
On'yomi: ショク (shoku) / ジキ (jiki)
Kun'yomi: た (ta) / く (ku)
Common verb: 食べる (taberu) – to eat
Example: ご飯を食べる (gohan o taberu) – eat a meal

4. 飲 (nomu) – "drink"

Meaning: drink, swallow
On'yomi: イン (in)
Kun'yomi: の (no)
Common verb: 飲む (nomu) – to drink
Example: 水を飲む (mizu o nomu) – drink water

5. 話 (hanasu) – "speak"

Meaning: speak, talk, story
On'yomi: ワ (wa)
Kun'yomi: はな (hana)
Common verb: 話す (hanasu) – to speak
Example: 日本語を話す (nihongo o hanasu) – speak Japanese

6. 読 (yomu) – "read"

Meaning: read
On'yomi: ドク (doku)
Kun'yomi: よ (yo)
Common verb: 読む (yomu) – to read
Example: 本を読む (hon o yomu) – read a book

Mini Examples

Kanji	Verb	Romaji	English
行	行く	iku	to go
見	見る	miru	to see
食	食べる	taberu	to eat
飲	飲む	nomu	to drink
話	話す	hanasu	to speak
読	読む	yomu	to read

Common Mistake

Don't confuse the kanji 食 (eat) with 飲 (drink). They look similar but have different radicals. 食 has the "food" radical (⺮) on top, while 飲 has the "drink" radical (飠) on the left. Practice writing them side by side to see the difference.

Quick Practice

Fill in the correct kanji:
- 学校に___く (iku) → 行
- テレビを___る (miru) → 見
- ご飯を___べる (taberu) → 食
Match the kanji to its meaning:
- 飲 → drink
- 話 → speak
- 読 → read

Summary and Next Step

You've learned 6 key N5 kanji that are the roots of common verbs. Remember: the kanji gives the meaning, and the hiragana ending shows the verb form. Practice writing each kanji 5 times while saying its verb aloud.

Next step: Learn how these verbs conjugate into polite form (～ます) and past tense (～ました). For example: 行く → 行きます (ikimasu) / 行きました (ikimashita).