仙
仙·hermit, immortal, wizard
- On-yomi
- セン
- 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 仙人 | せんにん | mountain hermit, immortal |
| 水仙 | すいせん | narcissus, daffodil |
| 仙台 | せんだい | Sendai (city) |
| 神仙 | しんせん | immortal, celestial being |
Example sentences
山奥に仙人が住むという伝説がある。
やまおくにせんにんがすむというでんせつがある。
There is a legend that a hermit lives deep in the mountains.
春になると庭に水仙が咲く。
はるになるとにわにすいせんがさく。
When spring comes, narcissus bloom in the garden.
来月、仙台へ出張します。
らいげつ、せんだいへしゅっちょうします。
I'm going to Sendai on business next month.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- The old 'cent' use of 仙 is obsolete — today it means a hermit-immortal
- 仙人 is a Taoist-style immortal, not simply anyone living alone
Memory aid
Picture it
亻 (person) beside 山 (mountain): the person who has gone up into the mountains and never come back down.
Vocabulary using this kanji
Quick check
1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5
What does the kanji 仙 mean?