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道Nihongo Path
沢

沢·marsh, mountain stream, abundant

On-yomi
タク
Kun-yomi
さわ

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.

7 strokes, numbered in writing order. Data: KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
沢さわmarsh, mountain stream
贅沢ぜいたくluxury, extravagance
沢山たくさんa lot, plenty
光沢こうたくluster, gloss

Example sentences

  1. 沢の水はとても冷たかった。

    さわのみずはとてもつめたかった。

    The water of the mountain stream was very cold.

  2. たまには贅沢な食事もいいものだ。

    たまにはぜいたくなしょくじもいいものだ。

    An extravagant meal now and then is a fine thing.

  3. この布は光沢があって高そうに見える。

    このぬのはこうたくがあってたかそうにみえる。

    This cloth has a sheen and looks expensive.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 贅沢 as ぜいたつ — it is ぜいたく
  • Assuming 沢山 is always written in kanji; たくさん is usually kana in modern writing

Memory aid

Picture it

Water 氵 spread out flat: a wetland where water is everywhere — which is why the same kanji also carries the sense of having plenty.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 沢 mean?