澄
澄·clear (water)
- On-yomi
- チョウ
- Kun-yomi
- す(む)す(ます)
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 澄む | すむ | to become clear |
| 澄ます | すます | to clear; to strain (one's ears) |
| 清澄 | せいちょう | clear and serene |
| 上澄み | うわずみ | the clear upper layer of a liquid |
Example sentences
山の湖の水はどこまでも澄んでいた。
やまのみずうみのみずはどこまでもすんでいた。
The water of the mountain lake was clear right through.
耳を澄まして鳥の声を聞いた。
みみをすましてとりのこえをきいた。
I listened hard for the birds' voices.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- 澄む sounds exactly like 住む and 済む — only the kanji tells them apart
- 耳を澄ます means to strain your ears, not to clean them
Memory aid
Picture it
氵 (water) with 登 (to climb): the dirt settles and the clear water rises to the top.
Vocabulary using this kanji
Quick check
1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5
What does the kanji 澄 mean?