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道Nihongo Path
巣

巣·nest, rookery, hive

On-yomi
そう
Kun-yomi
すす.くう

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

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

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
巣すnest
巣箱すばこnest box, birdhouse
巣立つすだつto leave the nest, to go out into the world
古巣ふるすold haunt, former home
卵巣らんそうovary

Example sentences

  1. 木の上に鳥の巣がある。

    きのうえにとりのすがある。

    There is a bird's nest up in the tree.

  2. 子どもたちが次々と巣立っていった。

    こどもたちがつぎつぎとすだっていった。

    One after another the children left home.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Alone it is す, but in technical compounds it is そう (卵巣).
  • 巣立つ is すだつ, used of children leaving home as much as of birds.

Memory aid

Picture it

Three little heads poking out over a tree 木: chicks peeping from a nest in the branches.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 巣 mean?