“bamboo” in Japanese is 竹, read chiku, take (ちく, たけ). It is a Grade 1 Kyōiku kanji, taught in year 1 of Japanese elementary school, and appears in words such as 竹林 (bamboo grove).
What does 竹 mean?
竹がのびる。
| Kanji | 竹 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | bamboo |
| Readings | ちく, たけ |
| Grade | Grade 1 (Easiest) |
| Curriculum | Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school |
| Example | 竹林 (bamboo grove) |
竹 is read chiku (ちく) or take (たけ) depending on the word.
Same sound, different character — the classic trap. Compare them side by side: