淡
淡·light, faint
- On-yomi
- タン
- Kun-yomi
- あわ(い)
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 淡い | あわい | pale, faint |
| 冷淡 | れいたん | cold, indifferent |
| 淡水 | たんすい | fresh water |
| 淡々 | たんたん | matter-of-fact, detached |
Example sentences
壁を淡い青に塗った。
かべをあわいあおにぬった。
We painted the wall a pale blue.
彼は淡々と事実だけを述べた。
かれはたんたんとじじつだけをのべた。
He stated only the facts, matter-of-factly.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Reading 淡水 as あわみず — it is たんすい
- 淡い is for pale colours and faint hopes; 薄い is for physical thinness
Memory aid
Picture it
氵 (water) beside 炎 (flame): fire watered down until its colour goes faint.
Vocabulary using this kanji
Quick check
1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5
What does the kanji 淡 mean?