井
井·well, well crib
- On-yomi
- セイショウ
- Kun-yomi
- い
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 井戸 | いど | water well |
| 天井 | てんじょう | ceiling |
| 油井 | ゆせい | oil well |
| 井戸水 | いどみず | well water |
Example sentences
昔の家の庭には井戸があった。
むかしのいえのにわにはいどがあった。
The gardens of old houses had wells.
この部屋は天井が高くて気持ちがいい。
このへやはてんじょうがたかくてきもちがいい。
This room has a high ceiling and feels pleasant.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
- 井丼丼 (どんぶり, rice bowl) is 井 with a single dot dropped into the middle.
- 井牛牛 (cow) has one vertical stroke through two horizontals; 井 has two verticals crossing two horizontals.
Common mistakes
- Reading 天井 as てんい — the 井 here takes ジョウ, giving てんじょう
- Assuming 井 is always a surname element — 井戸 and 天井 are everyday words
Memory aid
Picture it
The character is a picture of the wooden frame built over a well, seen from above — four beams crossing at the corners.
Vocabulary using this kanji
Quick check
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What does the kanji 井 mean?