芝 means “lawn, turf”

しば · shiba

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

しば

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

シ

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 6 strokes

The story

Grass (艹) over 之, a zigzag creeping along the ground: low turf. 芝生 is a lawn, often with a sign asking you to keep off, and 芝居, a play, is said to come from audiences sitting (居) on the grass to watch.

Used in 芝生 (shibafu, lawn), 芝居 (shibai, play/acting), and 芝 (shiba, turf)

More from Trees & Blossoms

• 杉 Japanese cedar
• 柳 willow
• 梅 Japanese plum
• 菊 chrysanthemum
• 梨 pear
• 葛 kudzu
• 桑 mulberry
• 柿 persimmon
• 桃 peach
• 茎 stem
• 萎 wilt
• 藤 wisteria

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