N4 kanji · 8 strokes
物 means thing, object
物
牛 cow · 勿 not
物Memory trick
Cattle (牛) were the most valuable things around: thing, object.
Memory trick: a picture to help you remember the kanji, not its history.
Meaning and readings
- Meanings
- thing, object, matter
- JLPT level
- N4
- Strokes
- 8
- School grade
- Grade 3 in Japan
Japanese (kunyomi) もの mono
もの (mono) is the Japanese word for this kanji. You use it when the kanji stands alone or has kana after it. Dictionaries call this the kun reading.
From Chinese (onyomi) ブツ butsu
ブツ (butsu) came from Chinese with the character. You mostly hear it in words made of several kanji. Dictionaries call this the on reading.
Other readings from Chinese: モツ motsu
Tap a reading to see when it's used. Why kanji have two kinds of reading: onyomi vs kunyomi.
Common word
人物 じんぶつ · jinbutsu
person, character
Built from
- 牛 cow
- 勿 do not
- 勹 wrap
- 丿 a sweeping stroke
Tap a part to see the N5 and N4 kanji that use it.
牛 Used in 15 kanji
勿 Used in 10 kanji
Quick check
What does 物 mean?
Right: 物 means thing, object.Not quite: 物 means thing, object.In 人物, which reading does 物 use?
Right. 人物 is read じんぶつ (jinbutsu): 物 takes ブツ, its reading from Chinese.Not quite. 人物 is read じんぶつ (jinbutsu): 物 takes ブツ, its reading from Chinese.