Kanji: 餌 (Feed/Bait)
The kanji 餌 means "feed," "bait," or "food" (specifically for animals, birds, and fish). It can also metaphorically refer to something used to lure or entice a person.
Key Reading:
Kun-yomi (Japanese reading): えさ (esa) / え (e)
On-yomi (Sino-Japanese reading): ジ (ji) / ニ (ni)
Common Words & Usage:
餌 (esa) - Noun. Animal feed, bait.
餌付け (ezuke) - Noun. Habitual feeding (of wild animals).
餌場 (ejiba) - Noun. Feeding ground.
動物の餌 (dōbutsu no esa) - Phrase. Animal feed.
Example Sentence:
Japanese: 釣りに行く前に、魚の餌を買わなければならない。
Romaji: Tsuri ni iku mae ni, sakana no esa o kawanakereba naranai.
English: Before going fishing, I must buy bait for the fish.
Learning the correct stroke order for kanji like 餌 is essential for balanced, legible Japanese handwriting and is a fundamental part of mastering kanji writing.