吸 means “inhale, suck, absorb”

すう · suu

Also: imbibe, sip

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

すう

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

キュウ

JLPT N3 · Taught in grade 6 · 6 strokes

The story

A mouth (口) reaching out (及) to draw something in. 吸う covers breathing in, sipping through a straw and smoking, and 呼吸 pairs the breath out (呼) with the breath in: breathing.

Used in 吸う (suu, to inhale/suck), 呼吸 (kokyuu, breathing), and 吸収 (kyuushuu, absorption)

More from Life & Breath

• 祖 ancestor
• 腹 belly
• 眠 sleep
• 活 lively
• 歳 age
• 身 body
• 若 young
• 命 life
• 亡 pass away
• 老 old age
• 抱 hug
• 息 breath

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

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