Skip to content
道Nihongo Path
荘

荘·villa, inn, cottage

On-yomi
そうしょう
Kun-yomi
none

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

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

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
別荘べっそうholiday house, second home
山荘さんそうmountain villa, lodge
荘厳そうごんsolemn, majestic
荘園しょうえんmanorial estate (historical)

Example sentences

  1. 夏は湖のそばの別荘で過ごす。

    なつはみずうみのそばのべっそうですごす。

    We spend the summer at a holiday house by the lake.

  2. 大聖堂の荘厳な雰囲気に圧倒された。

    だいせいどうのそうごんなふんいきにあっとうされた。

    I was overwhelmed by the solemn atmosphere of the cathedral.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • 荘園 uses しょう (しょうえん); 別荘 and 山荘 use そう.
  • Apartment blocks named 〜荘 are read 〜そう, e.g. さくら荘 = さくらそう.

Memory aid

Picture it

The grass crown 艹 over 壮 (grand): a grand house standing in its own greenery.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5

What does the kanji 荘 mean?