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Learn 日

rì

sun or day

Recognize 日, know its sound, and learn one way to use it.

When you’re ready, mark this character as completed at the end of the lesson.

Before the Sun

1 min illustrated story · A little help remembering 日

Alex sits sleepily on the edge of his bed as Lin waits at the open doorway before dawn.
01

Alex’s alarm rang while the room was still dark. He sat on the edge of the bed and considered every decision that had led to this one.

Outside his door, Lin knocked.

“Sunrise,” she reminded him.

“I remember the agreement.”

Alex and Lin hold small cups beside the river under a pale dawn sky.
02

They reached the river before the sun appeared. Lin poured tea from a flask into two small cups. Alex wrapped his hands around his.

The sky above the opposite bank was turning pale.

“Good seats,” he said.

Alex and Lin watch the sun rise above rooftops across the river, their cups in hand.
03

A narrow orange edge appeared above the far bank. They watched without speaking until the whole sun was clear of the rooftops.

“日出,” Lin said quietly. “Rì chū. Sunrise. 日 can mean sun, or day.”

Alex nodded, still holding his cup.

Alex pauses with Lin outside an opening bakery after sunrise.
04

On the way back, a bakery was opening. Alex stopped at the smell of warm bread.

“Same time tomorrow?” Lin asked.

He looked back toward the bright river, then at the bakery.

“Let’s discuss it over breakfast.”

日

One way to use 日.

日 means day and also carries the meaning sun in words such as 日出, sunrise. The usual everyday word for the sun is 太阳 (tàiyang).

日出rì chūsunrise

Can you recognize it?

Which character means sun or day?

Make 日 part of your Hanzi.

Choose Mark as completed below to save this character to your completed list.

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