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道Nihongo Path
翼

翼·wing

On-yomi
ヨク
Kun-yomi
つばさ

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

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

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

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
翼つばさwing, wings
左翼さよくleft wing (politics, baseball)
右翼うよくright wing
主翼しゅよくmain wing of an aircraft

Example sentences

  1. 鳥が大きな翼を広げた。

    とりがおおきなつばさをひろげた。

    The bird spread its great wings.

  2. 彼は右翼的な考え方で知られている。

    かれはうよくてきなかんがえかたでしられている。

    He is known for right-wing views.

  3. 飛行機の主翼に氷が付いていた。

    ひこうきのしゅよくにこおりがついていた。

    Ice had formed on the plane's main wing.

Common mistakes

  • Reading the standalone noun 翼 as よく instead of つばさ
  • 左翼 and 右翼 are political terms as often as they are baseball positions — context decides

Memory aid

Picture it

Feathers 羽 on top of 異 'differing sides' — a pair of feathered wings spread out on either side of the body.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 翼 mean?