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道Nihongo Path
堤

堤·embankment, bank, dike

On-yomi
テイ
Kun-yomi
つつみ

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

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

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

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
堤防ていぼうembankment, levee
堤つつみbank, dike
防波堤ぼうはていbreakwater
土手堤どてづつみearthen bank

Example sentences

  1. 大雨で堤防が壊れそうだ。

    おおあめでていぼうがこわれそうだ。

    The levee looks likely to break in this heavy rain.

  2. 子どもたちが堤の上を走っていく。

    こどもたちがつつみのうえをはしっていく。

    The children run along the top of the bank.

  3. 防波堤の先で釣りをしている人がいる。

    ぼうはていのさきでつりをしているひとがいる。

    Someone is fishing at the end of the breakwater.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Writing 提防 for 堤防 — the levee takes the earth radical
  • Reading 堤 alone as てい — on its own it is つつみ

Memory aid

Picture it

Earth 土 heaped up so the river stays where it 是 (is right to be): a long ridge of soil holding the water back.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 堤 mean?