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道Nihongo Path
砲

砲·cannon, gun

On-yomi
ホウ
Kun-yomi
none

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

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

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

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
大砲たいほうcannon, artillery piece
鉄砲てっぽうgun, firearm
砲撃ほうげきbombardment, shelling
砲台ほうだいgun battery

Example sentences

  1. 城の入り口に大砲が並べてあった。

    しろのいりぐちにたいほうがならべてあった。

    Cannons were lined up at the entrance to the castle.

  2. 敵の陣地が激しい砲撃を受けた。

    てきのじんちがはげしいほうげきをうけた。

    The enemy position came under heavy shelling.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 鉄砲 as てつほう — it is てっぽう
  • Reading 大砲 as だいほう instead of たいほう

Memory aid

Picture it

石 (stone) plus 包 (to wrap): a tube that wraps a stone ball and hurls it — a cannon.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 砲 mean?