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道Nihongo Path
塔

塔·tower, pagoda

On-yomi
トウ
Kun-yomi
none

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

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

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

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
塔とうtower
五重塔ごじゅうのとうfive-storied pagoda
鉄塔てっとうsteel tower, pylon
管制塔かんせいとうcontrol tower

Example sentences

  1. 東京タワーは日本で有名な塔だ。

    とうきょうタワーはにほんでゆうめいなとうだ。

    Tokyo Tower is a famous tower in Japan.

  2. 京都で五重塔を見学した。

    きょうとでごじゅうのとうをけんがくした。

    We toured the five-storied pagoda in Kyoto.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Writing 塔乗 instead of 搭乗
  • Reading 五重塔 as ごじゅうとう — the standard reading inserts の: ごじゅうのとう

Memory aid

Picture it

土 (earth) piled higher and higher under a lid — a structure heaped up from the ground until it towers.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 塔 mean?