1. Kanji Breakdown: 斤
This kanji represents a specific unit of measurement and has historical roots in tools.
Meaning: A unit of weight (approximately 600 grams); axe; hatchet.
Reading:
Onyomi (Sino-Japanese reading): キン (kin)
Kunyomi (Native Japanese reading): None in common modern use.
The kanji is a pictograph (象形文字). Its ancient form clearly depicted a "stone axe" with a curved blade attached to a handle. This was an important tool and weapon in ancient times. In modern Japanese, its primary meaning has shifted from the tool itself to a unit of weight (especially for bread), though the original meaning is still visible in some compound words.
2. Stroke Order and Writing
Learning the correct stroke order is crucial for balanced and beautiful kanji. "斤" is a simple character with 4 strokes.
Here is the stroke order diagram and explanation:
Total Strokes: 4
The left-falling stroke. (A short diagonal from right to left)
The horizontal stroke. (From left to right)
The right-falling stroke. (A long diagonal from the top-right)
The vertical stroke. (A straight line down the center)
Key Writing Tips:
Write from top to bottom, left to right.
The first stroke is a short left-falling stroke, not a dot.
The third stroke (the long right-falling stroke) is the most distinctive and should sweep down confidently.
The final vertical stroke should be straight and centered, cutting through the horizontal stroke.
3. Vocabulary and Example Sentences
Here are some common words using "斤" and how to use them in sentences.
Vocabulary
斤 (きん, kin)
Meaning: A unit of weight (approx. 600g), specifically a loaf of bread.
Example: パンを一斤買いました。
Romaji: Pan o ik-kin kaimashita.
English: I bought a loaf of bread. (Literally: one kin of bread)
一斤 (いっきん, ikkin)
Meaning: One kin (one loaf of bread).
Example: 一斤の食パンを焼く。
Romaji: Ikkin no shokupan o yaku.
English: To bake a loaf of white bread.
斧斤 (ふきん, fukin)
Meaning: Axes and hatchets (a literary term).
Example: 斧斤を用いて木を倒す。
Romaji: Fukin o mochīte ki o taosu.
English: To cut down a tree using an axe.
斤量 (きんりょう, kinryō)
Meaning: Weight (by the kin).
Example: 魚の斤量を量る。
Romaji: Sakana no kinryō o hakaru.
English: To weigh a fish (by the kin).
Summary
Kanji: 斤
Core Meaning: A unit of weight (600g, a loaf of bread); axe.
Readings: On'yomi キン (kin)
Stroke Order: 4 strokes. Focus on the distinctive long right-falling stroke and the centered vertical stroke.
This kanji is a great example of how the meaning of a character can evolve from a concrete object (an axe) to a unit of measurement. While not extremely common, it is essential for shopping for bread and understanding historical contexts.