About this Draft
This page is part of the early access version of The Kanji Speedrun. The essentials—kanji meanings and mnemonics—are already in place and usable, but nearly every part of the page is still being polished. Some entries may contain mistakes, but please rest assured we are working hard to make revisions.
We’re sharing these drafts now so you can keep learning while we polish the full experience. If you notice something off, please don’t hesitate to let me know—it’s a huge help in improving the course!
串
SKEWER
Mnemonic
Picture a vertical stick piercing through two squares. Just like food lined up on a stick, this image becomes a SKEWER. Think of tasty street food like yakitori or dango, all threaded neatly onto a skewer.
串 is one of those kanji that really looks like what it means: a stick going through pieces of food. Easy to picture, easy to remember.
Example Vocabulary
- 串焼き（くしやき） – skewered and grilled food
- 焼き鳥（やきとり）串 – grilled chicken skewer
- 串団子（くしだんご） – skewered dumplings
- 串刺し（くしざし） – skewering; impaling
- 串カツ（くしかつ） – deep-fried skewered cutlet
Everyday skewers
From festival treats like 串団子 to izakaya favorites like 焼き鳥串 and 串カツ, this kanji shows up whenever food is pierced, grilled, and served on a stick. 串 is simple, vivid, and full of flavor.
Example Sentences
- お祭りで串団子を食べました。– I ate skewered dumplings at the festival.
- 居酒屋で串カツを注文しました。– I ordered fried skewers at the izakaya.