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道Nihongo Path
騒

騒·make noise

On-yomi
ソウ
Kun-yomi
さわ(ぐ)

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

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

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

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
騒ぐさわぐto make noise, to make a fuss
騒音そうおんnoise (unwanted)
騒々しいそうぞうしいnoisy, boisterous
物騒ぶっそうdangerous, unsafe (of a place or time)

Example sentences

  1. 子どもたちが教室で騒いでいる。

    こどもたちがきょうしつでさわいでいる。

    The children are making noise in the classroom.

  2. 工事の騒音がひどい。

    こうじのそうおんがひどい。

    The noise from the construction is terrible.

  3. 夜道を一人で歩くのは物騒だ。

    よみちをひとりであるくのはぶっそうだ。

    Walking alone at night is unsafe.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 物騒 as ものそう — it is ぶっそう
  • Using 騒音 for any sound; 音 is neutral, 騒音 is specifically unwanted noise

Memory aid

Picture it

Horses (馬) stirred up by the fleas on their backs — a stable in uproar.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 騒 mean?