和
和·harmony, Japanese-style
- On-yomi
- ワオ
- Kun-yomi
- やわらぐなごむ
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 平和 | へいわ | peace |
| 和食 | わしょく | Japanese food |
| 和室 | わしつ | Japanese-style room |
| 昭和 | しょうわ | the Showa era |
Example sentences
世界の平和を願っています。
せかいのへいわをねがっています。
I wish for world peace.
今日の昼は和食にしましょう。
きょうのひるはわしょくにしましょう。
Let's have Japanese food for lunch today.
この旅館には和室があります。
このりょかんにはわしつがあります。
This inn has Japanese-style rooms.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- As a prefix 和 means 'Japanese-style' (和食, 和服), not 'harmony'
- 和 as ワ only ever appears in compounds; alone it is rarely read
Memory aid
Picture it
Rice (禾) beside a mouth (口) — everyone fed is everyone at peace.
Vocabulary using this kanji
- 平和へいわpeace
- 和室わしつJapanese-style room
- 和食わしょくJapanese food
- 和解わかいreconciliation, settlement
- 和えるあえるto dress (vegetables, etc.), to toss with sauce
- 和解するわかいするto reconcile, to settle
- 英和えいわEnglish-Japanese (e.g. dictionary)
- 和英わえいJapanese-English (esp. of a dictionary)
- 漢和かんわChinese characters explained in Japanese (as in 漢和辞典, a kanji dictionary)
- 和服わふくJapanese clothes, traditional Japanese dress
- 温和おんわmild (climate); gentle (personality)
- 和やかなごやかharmonious; friendly (mood)
Quick check
1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 2 of 5
What does the kanji 和 mean?