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道Nihongo Path
泉

泉·spring, fountain, source

On-yomi
セン
Kun-yomi
いずみ

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

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

9 strokes, numbered in writing order. Data: KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
温泉おんせんhot spring
泉いずみspring, fountain
源泉げんせんsource, wellspring
温泉地おんせんちhot spring resort area

Example sentences

  1. 冬休みに家族で温泉へ行きました。

    ふゆやすみにかぞくでおんせんへいきました。

    I went to a hot spring with my family over winter break.

  2. 森の中に小さな泉があった。

    もりのなかにちいさないずみがあった。

    There was a small spring in the forest.

  3. この温泉地は秋が一番きれいです。

    このおんせんちはあきがいちばんきれいです。

    This hot spring area is most beautiful in autumn.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 泉 as *せん on its own — alone it is いずみ; セン appears in compounds like 温泉
  • Confusing 源泉 (the source) with 温泉 (a hot spring)

Memory aid

Picture it

White (白) above water (水): clear water bubbling up pale out of the rock.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 3 of 5

What does the kanji 泉 mean?