枕
枕·pillow
- On-yomi
- チン
- Kun-yomi
- まくら
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 枕 | まくら | pillow |
| 枕元 | まくらもと | bedside |
| 枕カバー | まくらかばー | pillowcase |
| 腕枕 | うでまくら | using one's arm as a pillow |
Example sentences
この枕は柔らかくて気持ちがいい。
このまくらはやわらかくてきもちがいい。
This pillow is soft and feels good.
枕元に水を置いて寝た。
まくらもとにみずをおいてねた。
I went to sleep with water by my bedside.
旅先では枕が変わると眠れない。
たびさきではまくらがかわるとねむれない。
When travelling I can't sleep with a different pillow.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Expecting an on-reading in daily use — 枕 is まくら nearly always
- 枕 also means the opening remarks of a talk (話の枕); reading it only as a physical pillow misses that use
Memory aid
Picture it
The tree radical 木: old Japanese pillows were wooden blocks, and the wood radical still marks the word.
Vocabulary using this kanji
Quick check
1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5
What does the kanji 枕 mean?