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道Nihongo Path
沿

沿·run along

On-yomi
エン
Kun-yomi
そ(う)

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

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

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

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
沿うそうto run along, follow
沿岸えんがんcoast, shore
沿線えんせんalong a railway line
沿道えんどうroadside, along the route

Example sentences

  1. 川に沿って歩いた。

    かわにそってあるいた。

    I walked along the river.

  2. 沿岸の町は漁業が盛んだ。

    えんがんのまちはぎょぎょうがさかんだ。

    Fishing is thriving in the coastal towns.

  3. この沿線には大学が多い。

    このえんせんにはだいがくがおおい。

    There are many universities along this train line.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Writing 沿って as 添って — 添う is to accompany, 沿う is to run alongside
  • Reading 沿岸 as *そうがん

Memory aid

Picture it

Water (氵) tracing the line it always takes — following the bank all the way down.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 沿 mean?