奈
奈·Nara (place name element), how, what (classical)
- On-yomi
- ナ
- Kun-yomi
- none
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 奈良 | なら | Nara (city and prefecture) |
| 神奈川 | かながわ | Kanagawa (prefecture) |
| 奈良時代 | ならじだい | the Nara period |
| 奈落 | ならく | hell, the abyss; stage trapdoor area |
Example sentences
奈良で鹿に餌をやった。
ならでしかにえさをやった。
I fed the deer in Nara.
私は神奈川県に住んでいます。
わたしはかながわけんにすんでいます。
I live in Kanagawa Prefecture.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Reading 神奈川 as しんなかわ — it is かながわ
- Expecting 奈 to carry a meaning in modern text — it survives almost entirely as a sound in place names
Memory aid
Picture it
大 (big) over 示 (an altar): a great shrine on the plain — which is exactly what the old capital 奈良 was.
Quick check
1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5
What does the kanji 奈 mean?