足

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. 足が痛いです。▶ —
   My foot/leg hurts.
2. 足が速いです。▶ —
   I run fast (lit. legs are fast).

Collocations

Mnemonic

あし — 足, Yamato. The kanji 足 fuses 口 (knee) and 止 (foot) into one picture — the whole lower limb in a single drawing. One word does the job English splits between 'leg' and 'foot' ── both senses ride on 足. Context decides which. 足が痛い can be either; 足が速い (fast runner) leans toward 'leg'. Step into the onyomi そく soku and 足 builds compounds ── 一足 issoku (one pair of shoes) — shoes come in twos, so 'one bundle of feet'. 遠足 ensoku (school excursion = 'far feet') — the warm word for a school field trip. The Korean reading jok is sister to the onyomi そく.

Quick check

1. "One pair of shoes" — counter?

   • 一足 issoku (specific for footwear)
   • 一個 ikko (general object)
   • 一対 ittsui (general pair, e.g. earrings)
   • 一組 hitokumi (set/group)