From waking up to going to sleep, every action we take can be expressed with kanji. Standing up (立つ), walking (歩く), sitting down (座る), resting (休む) — these are the most basic, highest-frequency verbs in Japanese.
This article teaches you 20 everyday action kanji.
Core Kanji Table
Basic Movements
| Kanji | On'yomi | Kun'yomi | Meaning | Common Words | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 立 | リツ (ritsu) | た (ta) | stand | 立つ (たつ, to stand), 立場 (たちば, position) | 起立! = Stand up! |
| 座 | ザ (za) | すわ (suwa) | sit | 座る (すわる, to sit), 座席 (ざせき, seat) | 正座 = formal kneeling |
| 歩 | ホ (ho)・ブ (bu) | ある (aru) | walk | 歩く (あるく, to walk), 散歩 (さんぽ, stroll) | 散歩 = a walk |
| 走 | ソウ (sō) | はし (hashi) | run | 走る (はしる, to run), 走行 (そうこう, running) | NOT walk — RUN! |
| 止 | シ (shi) | と (to)・や (ya) | stop | 止まる (とまる, to stop), 中止 (ちゅうし, cancellation) | 止まれ! = Stop! |
| 休 | キュウ (kyū) | やす (yasu) | rest | 休む (やすむ, to rest), 休日 (きゅうじつ, day off) | 休日 = holiday |
Daily Routines
| Kanji | On'yomi | Kun'yomi | Meaning | Common Words | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 起 | キ (ki) | お (o) | wake up | 起きる (おきる, to wake up), 起床 (きしょう, getting up) | 早起き = early riser |
| 寝 | シン (shin) | ね (ne) | sleep | 寝る (ねる, to sleep), 寝室 (しんしつ, bedroom) | 昼寝 = nap |
| 食 | ショク (shoku) | た (ta)・く (ku) | eat | 食べる (たべる, to eat), 食事 (しょくじ, meal) | Also in the food series |
| 飲 | イン (in) | の (no) | drink | 飲む (のむ, to drink), 飲料 (いんりょう, beverage) | 飲み物 = drinks |
Wearing & Opening
| Kanji | On'yomi | Kun'yomi | Meaning | Common Words | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 着 | チャク (chaku) | き (ki)・つ (tsu) | wear / arrive | 着る (きる, to wear), 到着 (とうちゃく, arrival) | Two meanings: wear AND arrive |
| 脱 | ダツ (datsu) | ぬ (nu) | remove | 脱ぐ (ぬぐ, to take off), 脱出 (だっしゅつ, escape) | 脱出 = escape |
| 洗 | セン (sen) | あら (ara) | wash | 洗う (あらう, to wash), 洗濯 (せんたく, laundry) | 洗濯 = doing laundry |
| 開 | カイ (kai) | あ (a)・ひら (hira) | open | 開ける (あける, to open), 開始 (かいし, start) | 開ける = to open |
| 閉 | ヘイ (hei) | し (shi)・と (to) | close | 閉める (しめる, to close), 閉店 (へいてん, store closing) | 閉店 = closed for business |
Movement
| Kanji | On'yomi | Kun'yomi | Meaning | Common Words | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 入 | ニュウ (nyū) | い (i)・はい (hai) | enter | 入る (はいる, to enter), 入口 (いりぐち, entrance) | 入口 = entrance |
| 出 | シュツ (shutsu) | で (de)・だ (da) | exit | 出る (でる, to exit), 出口 (でぐち, exit) | 出口 = exit |
| 乗 | ジョウ (jō) | の (no) | ride | 乗る (のる, to ride), 乗客 (じょうきゃく, passenger) | 電車に乗る = ride the train |
| 降 | コウ (kō) | お (o)・ふ (fu) | descend | 降りる (おりる, to get off), 下降 (かこう, descent) | 降りる = get off (vehicle) |
| 持 | ジ (ji) | も (mo) | hold | 持つ (もつ, to hold), 持ち物 (もちもの, belongings) | 気持ち = feeling/mood |
Transitive & Intransitive Verb Pairs
A key feature of Japanese action kanji is paired transitive and intransitive verbs:
| Intransitive (happens naturally) | Transitive (someone does it) | Kanji |
|---|---|---|
| 開く (あく) the door opened | 開ける (あける) open the door | 開 |
| 閉まる (しまる) the door closed | 閉める (しめる) close the door | 閉 |
| 止まる (とまる) the car stopped | 止める (とめる) stop the car | 止 |
| 入る (はいる) go in | 入れる (いれる) put in | 入 |
| 出る (でる) come out | 出す (だす) take out | 出 |
Tip: Intransitive = things change naturally; Transitive = someone actively causes the change.
The 走る False Friend
Chinese 走 = walk, but Japanese 走る = run!
| Action | Japanese | Chinese |
|---|---|---|
| Walk | 歩く (あるく) | 走 |
| Run | 走る (はしる) | 跑 |
| Stop | 止まる (とまる) | 停 |
Practice
Q1. What does Japanese 走る mean?
Show answer
To run. Japanese 走る (はしる) = run, not walk. Walking = 歩く (あるく).
Q2. What's the difference between 開く and 開ける?
Show answer
Intransitive vs. transitive. 開く (あく) = the door opened by itself (intransitive); 開ける (あける) = someone opened the door (transitive).
Q3. How many meanings does 着る have?
Show answer
Two main meanings: to wear (着る, きる = put on clothes) and to arrive (到着, とうちゃく = arrival). Different readings, different meanings.
Q4. What is 正座?
Show answer
Formal kneeling. 正座 (せいざ) = the formal sitting position with both knees on the ground and buttocks resting on the heels. It's the traditional formal Japanese sitting posture.
Q5. What does 気持ち mean? Which action kanji does it use?
Show answer
Feeling/mood. It uses 持 (持つ = to hold). 気 + 持ち = held spirit = mood/feeling.
Summary
- Daily action kanji are the highest-frequency kanji — 起きる, 食べる, 歩く are used every day
- Transitive/intransitive verb pairs are a Japanese specialty: 開く/開ける, 止まる/止める
- Watch out: 走る = run (not walk)! 歩く = walk
- 着 has two meanings: wear clothes AND arrive — determined by reading
- Next up: Hand actions — learn kanji like 書く, 読む, 打つ