Kanji: 教 teach

JLPT N4 | Japanese Grade 2 (Elementary) | 11 Strokes

教 Kanji Parts: 

• 孝 filial piety [The top 耂 represents an old man, a bent-over figure with long hair; the bottom is a child 子]
• 攵 strike; hit; looks like walking legs about to strike someone with a kick

This combination of components suggests the idea of imparting knowledge or doctrine, reinforcing the kanji's core meaning of teaching and education.

教 Mnemonic Story: 

1. The old man sensei teaches the young child 孝 how to kick 攵.
2. Imagine a wise elder (孝) striking (攵) a gong to gather students and teach them. The sound of the gong represents the call to learn and embrace knowledge and faith.

教 Stroke Order:

教 Examples:

• 教きょう室しつ classroom; lecture room
• 教きょう育いく education; schooling; training; instruction
• 教きょう会かい church
• 教おしえる to teach; to instruct

毎週(まいしゅう)、教会(きょうかい)に行(い)く。

(I) go to church every week.

• 毎週 every week
• 教会 church
• に to
• 行く to go

Other Examples

Note: this is experimental, and while should be correct, there could be errors:

彼かれは毎日まいにち教きょう室しつで英語えいごを教おしえている。

He teaches English in the classroom every day.

私わたしたちは新あたらしい教きょう育いく方法ほうほうを学まなんだ。

We learned a new teaching method.

その教きょう会かいはとても美うつくしいです。

That church is very beautiful.

彼女かのじょはピアノを教おしえるのが上手じょうずです。

She is good at teaching piano.

この教おそわる方法ほうほうはとても効果的こうかてきです。

This method of being taught is very effective.