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道Nihongo Path
泥

泥·mud

On-yomi
デイ
Kun-yomi
どろ

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

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

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

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
泥どろmud
泥棒どろぼうthief, burglar
泥だらけどろだらけcovered in mud
泥水どろみずmuddy water

Example sentences

  1. 靴が泥で汚れた。

    くつがどろでよごれた。

    My shoes got dirty with mud.

  2. 泥棒に財布を取られた。

    どろぼうにさいふをとられた。

    A thief took my wallet.

  3. 子どもたちは泥だらけで帰ってきた。

    こどもたちはどろだらけでかえってきた。

    The children came home covered in mud.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 泥棒 as *でいぼう
  • Expecting the デイ reading in everyday words — almost all common words use どろ

Memory aid

Picture it

Water (氵) worked into the ground until it turns soft — mud.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 泥 mean?