Meaning
The kanji 品 (hin, shina) primarily conveys the concepts of "goods," "article," "item," "quality," or "dignity." Essentially, it represents something categorized or classified, often referring to tangible objects or inherent characteristics. This kanji is essential for describing products, evaluating standards, and even discussing a person's character. Whether you're talking about merchandise in a store, the standard of a product, or a person's refined demeanor, 品 plays a significant role in expressing these nuances.
Its visual origin is quite intuitive. 品 is an ideogram (会意文字 - kaii moji) formed by combining three instances of the radical 口 (kuchi), meaning "mouth" or "opening." When three mouths are put together, the original meaning referred to a "crowd of people" or "many voices," suggesting a multitude or gathering. Over time, this evolved to denote "many things" or "various items," eventually leading to its current primary meanings of "goods" or "articles."
The idea of "quality" or "dignity" then developed from the concept of distinguishing between different kinds of "things" or "people." This involved assessing their worth or standard, reflecting a desirable level of excellence or character. The visual shape of three mouths, stacked or arranged, clearly suggests a collection, a variety, or a multitude. This directly links to the idea of numerous goods or diverse qualities. This simple construction makes recalling the core meanings straightforward.
This kanji has 9 strokes and is taught in the 3rd grade in Japanese elementary schools. It is an N4 level character for the JLPT, making it important for intermediate learners to master.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
On'yomi readings are derived from Chinese pronunciations and are typically used when the kanji is part of a compound word (熟語), often alongside other kanji. For 品, the main On'yomi reading is ヒン (hin).
ヒン (hin)
ヒン (hin) is the primary On'yomi for 品 and is frequently used. It often appears in words describing products, their attributes, or a person's character, emphasizing the "category" or "standard" aspect of the kanji. Learning this reading is key to understanding many common Japanese words related to commerce and personal qualities.
商品 (shōhin) — merchandise, goods, product. This term broadly refers to anything bought or sold, from groceries to electronics.
品質 (hinshitsu) — quality (of a product or service). This term is crucial for evaluating standards, reliability, and excellence in manufacturing or service industries.
品格 (hinkaku) — dignity, grace, character. Refers to the noble, refined, or respectable aspect of a person or sometimes a thing, such as artwork.
食料品 (shokuryōhin) — foodstuffs, groceries. A common term for food items purchased for consumption.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
Kun'yomi readings are native Japanese pronunciations that are typically used when the kanji appears alone or is followed by okurigana (送り仮名), which are additional hiragana characters that complete the word. For 品, the main Kun'yomi reading is しな (shina).
しな (shina)
The reading しな (shina) is used when 品 refers to an "article," "item," "goods," or "sort/kind." It often carries a more general sense of "thing" or "category." When used independently, it implies a singular item or type of item, often with a nuance of display or selection. This reading is useful for describing items in a retail context or classifying different categories of things.
品 (shina) — article, item, goods. Can refer to a specific product or a type of commodity.
品数 (shinakazu) — number of articles/items, variety. Indicates the quantity or diversity of goods available or displayed.
手品 (tejina) — magic trick. Here, 手 means "hand" and 品 refers to a "trick" or "feat" performed with the hands.
Common Words & Compounds
The kanji 品 appears in many compound words across various categories, reflecting its core meanings of goods, quality, and character. Understanding these compounds is vital for grasping the full scope and application of 品 in Japanese. It will enable you to express a wide range of concepts related to commerce, standards, and personal attributes.
Words Related to Goods and Products
商品 (shōhin) — merchandise, goods, product. This is a common word for items sold in stores, from electronics to clothing.
食料品 (shokuryōhin) — foodstuffs, groceries. This term refers specifically to food items purchased for cooking or consumption.
化粧品 (keshōhin) — cosmetics. Products used for makeup, skincare, and beauty.
日用品 (nichiyōhin) — daily necessities, everyday goods. Items used in daily life, such as soap, toothpaste, or cleaning supplies.
美術品 (bijutsuhin) — artwork, works of art. Items created for artistic expression, often valued for their aesthetic or cultural significance.
Words Related to Quality and Standards
品質 (hinshitsu) — quality (of a product or service). This term is important for evaluating the standards, performance, and durability of goods or services.
品種 (hinshu) — kind, breed, variety (of plants, animals, or products). Refers to a specific type or category within a larger group, especially in biology or agriculture.
品定め (shinadame) — appraisal, assessment, selection. The act of evaluating the quality, value, or suitability of goods, often before making a purchase.
Words Related to Character and Dignity
品格 (hinkaku) — dignity, grace, character. Describes a noble, refined, or honorable personal quality or the inherent grace of something.
品行 (hinkō) — conduct, behavior. Refers to a person's moral conduct or deportment, often implying a sense of propriety.
Other Common Compounds
手品 (tejina) — magic trick. This term is often seen in performance contexts, referring to illusions or feats of dexterity.
品切れ (shinagire) — sold out, out of stock. A common phrase encountered in shops when an item is no longer available for purchase.
Example Sentences
この商品は品質が良いです。
Kono shōhin wa hinshitsu ga yoi desu.
This product has good quality.
店にはたくさんの品物が並んでいます。
Mise ni wa takusan no shinamono ga narande imasu.
Many items are lined up in the store.
彼女はいつも品のある振る舞いをします。
Kanojo wa itsumo hin no aru furumai o shimasu.
She always behaves with dignity.
新しい品種のバラが開発されました。
Atarashii hinshu no bara ga kaihatsu saremashita.
A new variety of roses has been developed.
夕食のために食料品を買いました。
Yūshoku no tame ni shokuryōhin o kaimashita.
I bought groceries for dinner.
この商品は現在品切れとなっております。
Kono shōhin wa genzai shinagire to natte orimasu.
This product is currently out of stock.
日本の伝統工芸品は素晴らしい品格を持っています。
Nihon no dentō kōgeihin wa subarashii hinkaku o motte imasu.
Traditional Japanese crafts have wonderful dignity.
デパートではさまざまな種類の品物が販売されています。
Depāto de wa samazamana shurui no shinamono ga hanbai sarete imasu.
Various kinds of goods are sold at the department store.
彼は品行が正しく、みんなから尊敬されています。
Kare wa hinkō ga tadashiku, minna kara sonkei sarete imasu.
His conduct is upright, and everyone respects him.
Related Kanji
- 質 — Quality, Nature, Substance (Kanji N4)
- 弟 — Younger Brother, Junior (Kanji N4)
- 黒 — Black, Dark (Kanji N4)
- 洗 — Wash (Kanji N4)
- 短 — Short, brief, defect (Kanji N4)
- 田 — Rice Field (Kanji N4)
Memory Tip
To remember the kanji 品, think of three "mouths" (口) stacked together. Imagine a bustling market where many people are talking and calling out to sell their "goods." Each 口 can represent an individual item or type of product. When you put three together, it suggests a vast array of "articles" or "merchandise" on display. You can also visualize it as three identical "items" neatly arranged on a shelf, symbolizing high "quality" and "variety." The repetition of the simple 口 component makes it easier to remember that 品 means "goods" or "quality"—a collection of similar things, reflecting abundance and selection. This visual story helps link the components to the kanji's core meanings.