史 means “history, chronicle”

し · shi

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

シ

JLPT N2 · Taught in grade 5 · 5 strokes

The story

Picture a hand holding a brush case upright: 史 first named the court scribe who wrote events down. Now it is the record itself: 歴史 is history, 日本史 and 世界史 are school subjects, and 史上最高 means the best ever.

Used in 歴史 (rekishi, history), 日本史 (nihonshi, Japanese history), and 史上 (shijou, in history/ever)

More from Lessons & Skills

• 歴 history
• 講 lecture
• 卒 graduate
• 略 abbreviate
• 練 practice
• 績 achievement
• 簡 simple
• 訓 instruction
• 準 standard
• 技 skill
• 課 lesson
• 専 specialty

Learn 史 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.