石 means “stone”

いし · ishi

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading): いし
On'yomi (Chinese reading): セキ, シャク, コク

JLPT N4 · Taught in grade 1 · 5 strokes

The story

Stepping stones in a zen garden guide the mind to stillness, each placed with intention.

Found in Japanese garden design and classical poetry

Where it comes from

Pictographic (象形文字): A cliff face with a rock at its base.

The original drawing showed a cliff (厂) with a boulder sitting at its base (口). Today's character preserves both elements: the angled top-left is the cliff face, and the box below is the stone that tumbled down.

To remember it: A cliff (厂) with a square rock (口) resting below it.

Its parts

一 One/cliff · Top
口 Mouth/rock · Bottom

A piece that broke off a cliff: stone

Words with 石

土石 (どせき, doseki): earth and stones
石山 (いしやま, ishiyama): rocky mountain

Example sentences

大きい石がありました。 There was a big stone.
石の上に鳥がいます。 There is a bird on the stone.

Kanji that look like 石

右 (right): 右 has a mouth (口) underneath, 石 does not

More from Nature's Poetry

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