指
KanjiJLPT N4
Finger
finger, point to, indicate, put into, play (chess), measure (ruler)
Mnemonic
Your hand hovers over a delicious cake, but there's no fork. You extend one finger, swipe the frosting clean off the top, and pop it in your mouth. That finger scooped the most delicious bite—and now everyone is pointing at you for ruining the dessert.
Additional thoughts
Picture your index finger coated in thick frosting—the hand reaches, the delicious treat tempts, and the finger bridges the two. Pointing and finger are naturally linked, reinforcing the 'indicate' meaning.Quick recall
A hand dips one finger into a delicious cake when there's no fork.Details
The keyword for 指 is finger. This kanji refers to the fingers of the hand, which are essential tools for pointing, grasping, and manipulating objects. By extension, it also carries the meaning of "to point at" or "to indicate," since pointing with a finger is one of the most basic human gestures for directing attention. It can further extend to mean "to designate" or "to appoint," as in singling something or someone out.
- On'yomi
- し
- Kun'yomi
- ゆび、さ.す、-さ.し