鉄
鉄·iron
- On-yomi
- テツ
- Kun-yomi
- none
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 鉄 | てつ | iron |
| 地下鉄 | ちかてつ | subway, underground |
| 鉄道 | てつどう | railway |
| 鉄橋 | てっきょう | iron bridge |
Example sentences
毎朝、地下鉄で会社に行く。
まいあさ、ちかてつでかいしゃにいく。
I go to the office by subway every morning.
この門は鉄でできている。
このもんはてつでできている。
This gate is made of iron.
日本の鉄道は時間に正確だ。
にほんのてつどうはじかんにせいかくだ。
Japanese railways are punctual.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Reading 鉄橋 as てつきょう instead of てっきょう
- Writing the right half as 矢 — it is 失 with the extra top stroke
Memory aid
Picture it
Metal (金) you would hate to lose (失) — iron, the most useful metal there is.
Vocabulary using this kanji
- 鉄砲てっぽうgun, firearm (esp. an old-style one)
- 私鉄してつprivate railway
- 鉄橋てっきょうrailway bridge, iron bridge
- 地下鉄ちかてつsubway
- 鉄道てつどうrailway, railroad
- 鉄てつiron
- 無鉄砲むてっぽうreckless, rash
- 製鉄せいてつiron manufacture; iron and steel making
- 鉄棒てつぼうiron bar; horizontal bar (gymnastics)
- 鉄鋼てっこうiron and steel; steel
- 鉄片てっぺんpiece of iron; iron fragment; iron scrap
Quick check
1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 3 of 5
What does the kanji 鉄 mean?