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道Nihongo Path
川

川·river

On-yomi
セン
Kun-yomi
かわ

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
川かわriver
小川おがわstream
川上かわかみupstream
河川かせんrivers

Example sentences

  1. この川で魚をとりました。

    このかわでさかなをとりました。

    I caught a fish in this river.

  2. 家の前に小さい川があります。

    いえのまえにちいさいかわがあります。

    There is a small river in front of my house.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Writing 川 with horizontal strokes like 三

Memory aid

Picture it

Three lines of water flowing downward between two banks: a river.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 川 mean?