塊
塊·lump, mass, clod
- On-yomi
- カイ
- Kun-yomi
- かたまり
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 塊 | かたまり | lump, mass |
| 金塊 | きんかい | gold bullion, gold nugget |
| 団塊 | だんかい | cluster, the baby-boom generation |
| 血の塊 | ちのかたまり | blood clot |
Example sentences
雪の塊が屋根から落ちてきた。
ゆきのかたまりがやねからおちてきた。
A lump of snow fell off the roof.
彼は好奇心の塊のような子どもだった。
かれはこうきしんのかたまりのようなこどもだった。
He was a child who was nothing but curiosity.
団塊の世代が次々に退職していく。
だんかいのせだいがつぎつぎにたいしょくしていく。
The baby-boom generation is retiring one after another.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Reading 金塊 as きんかたまり — the compound is きんかい
- Missing the figurative use: X の塊 means 'nothing but X' (欲の塊, pure greed)
Memory aid
Picture it
Earth 土 beside a demon 鬼: a big ugly clod of dirt sitting there like a squat little monster.
Vocabulary using this kanji
Quick check
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What does the kanji 塊 mean?