甘
甘·sweet, indulgent, lenient
- On-yomi
- カン
- Kun-yomi
- あまいあまえるあまやかす
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 甘い | あまい | sweet; lenient, soft (on someone) |
| 甘える | あまえる | to act spoiled, to lean on someone's kindness |
| 甘やかす | あまやかす | to spoil, to pamper |
| 甘口 | あまくち | sweet-flavored (curry, sake) |
Example sentences
このケーキは甘すぎます。
このけーきはあますぎます。
This cake is too sweet.
父は妹に甘いです。
ちちはいもうとにあまいです。
My father is soft on my little sister.
子どもを甘やかさないでください。
こどもをあまやかさないでください。
Please don't spoil the children.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
- 甘廿廿 (an old form of twenty) is the same box shape but without the short stroke inside that 甘 carries.
- 甘日日 is a tall narrow box; 甘 is wide and flat with a floating stroke in the middle.
Common mistakes
- Taking 甘い about a person as praise — it means lenient or naive, and is usually a criticism
- Reading 甘やかす as *あまいやかす instead of あまやかす
Memory aid
Picture it
A wide open mouth (the flat box) with something held on the tongue — the one taste you keep in there is sweetness.
Vocabulary using this kanji
Quick check
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What does the kanji 甘 mean?