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道Nihongo Path
傘

傘·umbrella, parasol

On-yomi
サン
Kun-yomi
かさ

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
傘かさumbrella
日傘ひがさparasol
雨傘あまがさrain umbrella
傘下さんかunder the umbrella of, affiliated with

Example sentences

  1. 雨が降りそうだから傘を持って行こう。

    あめがふりそうだからかさをもっていこう。

    It looks like rain, so let's take an umbrella.

  2. 夏の午後は日傘をさす人が多い。

    なつのごごはひがさをさすひとがおおい。

    On summer afternoons many people carry parasols.

  3. その会社は大手企業の傘下に入った。

    そのかいしゃはおおてきぎょうのさんかにはいった。

    That company came under the umbrella of a major corporation.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 日傘 as にちがさ — it is ひがさ
  • Umbrellas are さす or 差す, not 開ける, when you put them up

Memory aid

Picture it

Look at the shape: a canopy on top, four ribs beneath and a straight shaft down the middle — the character is a drawing of an open umbrella.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 傘 mean?