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道Nihongo Path
薫

薫·fragrance, be fragrant, smoke-cure

On-yomi
クン
Kun-yomi
かお.る

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

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

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
薫製くんせいsmoked food
薫るかおるto be fragrant
薫陶くんとうinstruction by example, moral training
薫風くんぷうearly-summer breeze

Example sentences

  1. 薫製のチーズを買ってきた。

    くんせいのちーずをかってきた。

    I bought some smoked cheese.

  2. 五月の風が薫る季節になった。

    ごがつのかぜがかおるきせつになった。

    The season of fragrant May breezes has come.

  3. 彼は恩師の薫陶を受けた。

    かれはおんしのくんとうをうけた。

    He was shaped by his mentor's example.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • 香る is the general 'smell sweet'; 薫る is literary and used of breezes and reputations.
  • 薫製 is also written 燻製 — both are くんせい.

Memory aid

Picture it

Grass 艹 over fire dots 灬: herbs set smouldering, and the scent rises through everything.

Quick check

1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5

What does the kanji 薫 mean?