KanjiSchool
竹
竹 (readings: ちく, たけ; Japanese kanji) means “bamboo”. 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?
| Kanji | 竹 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | bamboo |
| Readings | ちく, たけ |
| Grade | Grade 1 (Easiest) |
| Curriculum | Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school |
How to read 竹
竹 is read ちく or たけ depending on the word.
Example words with 竹
| Example | 竹林 (bamboo grove) |
|---|
Practice writing 竹 — free
See 竹's stroke order, take a quiz, and add it to your spaced-repetition review. KanjiSchool teaches all 1,026 Kyōiku kanji through real stories and news.
Start free — no credit card →
Updated: 2026-07-14