Skip to content
道Nihongo Path
三

三·three

On-yomi
サン
Kun-yomi
みっ.つみ

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

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

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

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
三つみっつthree things
三月さんがつMarch
三人さんにんthree people
三日みっかthird day, three days
三時さんじthree o'clock

Example sentences

  1. 三つ 目の 駅で 降ります。

    みっつめのえきでおります。

    I get off at the third station.

  2. 三月に 学校が 終わります。

    さんがつにがっこうがおわります。

    School finishes in March.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 三日 as *さんにち when it means the 3rd of the month

Memory aid

Picture it

Three lines stacked up: three fingers lying flat.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 1 of 5

What does the kanji 三 mean?