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道Nihongo Path
洋

洋·ocean, Western

On-yomi
ヨウ
Kun-yomi
none

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
洋服ようふくWestern clothes
西洋せいようthe West
太平洋たいへいようthe Pacific Ocean
洋食ようしょくWestern food

Example sentences

  1. 母に新しい洋服を買ってもらいました。

    ははにあたらしいようふくをかってもらいました。

    My mother bought me new clothes.

  2. 今日の昼ご飯は洋食にしましょう。

    きょうのひるごはんはようしょくにしましょう。

    Let's have Western food for lunch today.

  3. 太平洋は世界で一番大きい海です。

    たいへいようはせかいでいちばんおおきいうみです。

    The Pacific is the largest ocean in the world.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Thinking 洋服 means 'foreign clothes' in general — it contrasts with 和服 (kimono) and just means ordinary modern clothes

Memory aid

Picture it

Water (氵) plus a sheep (羊) — wool came across the ocean from the West.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 洋 mean?