Meaning
Japanese students learn 走 in second grade. It is a vital character for the JLPT N4 and appears constantly in daily life. While the primary meaning is "to run," its Japanese usage is surprisingly broad. It describes cars cruising on a highway, a pen gliding across paper (筆が走る), and even the passage of time. Structurally, it consists of 7 strokes and acts as the "running" radical (Radical 156).
Visually, the kanji depicts a person with swinging arms (the top portion) above a foot (the bottom portion). This creates the image of a person in mid-sprint. Interestingly, the meaning shifted in China to mean "to walk." However, Japan kept the ancient meaning of moving at high speed. You will see this radical in other movement-related characters like 起きる (to wake/get up) or 超える (to exceed).
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The on'yomi for this kanji is ソウ. This reading appears in compound words (jukugo) related to formal movement, sports, or mechanical operation. You will rarely use ソウ as a standalone word. Instead, it combines with other kanji to form technical terms often used in news broadcasts or traffic reports.
走行 (soukou) — The traveling or running of a vehicle (e.g., a car driving on a track).
競走 (kyousou) — A race or competition of speed, typically a foot race.
脱走 (dassou) — Desertion or escaping from a place like a prison or a cage.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The kun'yomi is はし.る. This is the standard reading for the common verb "to run." It is a Godan verb, meaning it follows a specific conjugation pattern. When written as 走る, the "ru" is okurigana. This reading covers everything from a child sprinting to a ship sailing or a train moving along the tracks.
走る (hashiru) — To run, drive, flow, or rush.
走り書き (hashirigaki) — Writing something down in a great hurry; scribbling.
先走る (sakibashiru) — To act prematurely or to get ahead of oneself.
Common Words & Compounds
The character 走 is highly flexible. Below are common ways you will encounter it in conversation and writing.
Sports and Physical Action
- 完走 (kansou) — Finishing a race (e.g., finishing a marathon).
- 力走 (rikisou) — Running with all one's might.
- 逃走 (tousou) — Flight or escape (often used in police news).
- 伴走 (bansou) — Running alongside someone (to support or pace them).
Vehicles and Infrastructure
- 滑走路 (kassourou) — An airport runway (literally: "slide-run-road").
- 直送 (chokusou) — Direct shipping or sending.
- 車道を走る (shadou wo hashiru) — To drive or run on the roadway.
Abstract and Cultural Terms
- 師走 (shiwasu) — The traditional name for December. It literally means "the Master runs" because everyone is so busy at the end of the year.
- ご馳走 (gochisou) — A feast. Historically, this referred to the effort of running around to gather ingredients for guests.
- 暴走 (bousou) — Running wild or acting out of control (e.g., a reckless motorcycle gang).
- 迷走 (meisou) — Wandering or losing one's way (often used for failing political policies).
Example Sentences
健康のために、毎朝３キロ走っています。
kenkou no tame ni, maiasa sankiro hashitteimasu.
I run three kilometers every morning for my health.
駅まで走れば、まだ電車に間に合いますよ。
eki made hashireba, mada densha ni maniaimasu yo.
If you run to the station, you can still make the train.
今日は運動会で、徒競走に出ます。
kyou wa undoukai de, tokyousou ni demasu.
Today is the sports festival, and I'm participating in the foot race.
高速道路を走行する際は、スピードに注意してください。
kousoku douro wo soukou suru sai wa, supiido ni chuui shite kudasai.
Please be careful of your speed when traveling on the highway.
忘年会で、たくさんのご馳走をいただきました。
bounenkai de, takusan no gochisou wo itadakimashita.
We enjoyed a huge feast at the year-end party.
犯人は車で北の方向へ逃走したようです。
hannin wa kuruma de kita no houkou he tousou shita you desu.
It seems the culprit fled north by car.
Related Kanji
- 思 — To Think, Feel, Imagine (Kanji N4)
- 終 — End, Finish, Conclude (Kanji N4)
- 死 — Death, Die (Kanji N4)
- 開 — Open, Unfold, Begin (Kanji N4)
- 発 — Departure, Publish, Start (Kanji N4)
- 止 — Stop, Halt, Cease (Kanji N4)
Memory Tip
Visualize the components of 走. The top looks like 土 (earth), but imagine it as a person with arms outstretched for balance. The bottom part looks like a long, stretching leg. Picture a sprinter kicking up dust from the ground as they push off. That final long stroke on the bottom right is the trail of dust left behind by their incredible speed. It is a character in motion!