Learn Japanese while reading Manga with our new Manga Reader Tool!

Nihongo

Classroom

What is the Kanji for 'River'? | 川

If you are wondering what is the Japanese Kanji for 'River', you've come to the right place!

The Japanese Kanji for 'River' is 川.

    kanji

    Meaning

    River

    Reading

    kunyomiかわ

    kawa

    onyomiせん

    sen

    Parts

    丿Katakana no Stick

    Example Word

    天の川: Milky Way. The Japanese noun '天の川 (あまのがわ)' refers to the 'Milky Way', the galaxy that contains our solar system. In Japanese culture, it is often associated with the Tanabata festival, where the story of two star-crossed lovers, Orihime and Hikoboshi, is celebrated. The Milky Way is seen as a river that separates the lovers, who are allowed to meet only once a year on the seventh day of the seventh month. Example sentences: The Milky Way is beautiful tonight「今夜の天の川は美しい」(こんやのあまのがわはうつくしい). According to legend, the Milky Way separates the lovers「伝説によると、天の川が恋人たちを隔てている」(でんせつによると、あまのがわがこいびとたちをへだてている).

    Radical

    Stroke Count

    3

    JLPT

    N5

    Grade

    1

    Frequency

    157

    Handwriting

Parts of the Kanji

If you visually break down this kanji, you can see it is made up of 2 parts:

    radical

    丿

    Meaning

    Katakana no

    radical

    Meaning

    Stick

As Part Of Other Kanji

This kanji appears as part of 3 other kanji:

    kanji

    Meaning

    State

    kanji

    Meaning

    Order, Obey

    kanji

    Meaning

    Instruction

Words Using

This kanji is used in 3 words:

    word

    Meaning

    River

    word

    小川

    Meaning

    Stream

    word

    天の川

    Meaning

    Milky Way

Kanji Related to Through the Part 丿

These 31 kanji contain the part 丿 as well.

    kanji

    Meaning

    Eight

    kanji

    Meaning

    Nine

    kanji

    Meaning

    Thousand

    kanji

    Meaning

    Moon, Month

    kanji

    Meaning

    Person

    kanji

    Meaning

    Woman

    kanji

    Meaning

    Hand

    kanji

    Meaning

    Power

    kanji

    Meaning

    Enter

    kanji

    Meaning

    Before, Previous

    kanji

    Meaning

    Red

    kanji

    Meaning

    White

    kanji

    Meaning

    Few

    kanji

    Meaning

    Younger brother

    kanji

    Meaning

    Self

    kanji

    Meaning

    Fur

    kanji

    Meaning

    Heart

    kanji

    Meaning

    Talent, Age

    kanji

    Meaning

    Sword

    kanji

    Meaning

    Turn

    kanji

    Meaning

    Body, Self

    kanji

    Meaning

    Facing, Yonder

    kanji

    Meaning

    Inevitable, Certain

    kanji

    Meaning

    Lose, Fault

    kanji

    Meaning

    Scanty, Scarce

    kanji

    Meaning

    Mediate, Jammed in

    kanji

    Meaning

    Blood

    kanji

    寿

    Meaning

    Longevity, Congratulations

    kanji

    Meaning

    Mean, Lowly

    kanji

    Meaning

    Vermillion

    kanji

    Meaning

    Feel ashamed

Kanji Related to Through the Part

These 25 kanji contain the part 丨 as well.

    kanji

    Meaning

    Ten

    kanji

    Meaning

    Center

    kanji

    Meaning

    Mountain

    kanji

    Meaning

    Ear

    kanji

    Meaning

    Bamboo

    kanji

    Meaning

    Long, Leader

    kanji

    Meaning

    Younger brother

    kanji

    Meaning

    North

    kanji

    Meaning

    Gate

    kanji

    Meaning

    Voice

    kanji

    Meaning

    Make

    kanji

    Meaning

    Horse

    kanji

    Meaning

    Stop

    kanji

    Meaning

    Pull

    kanji

    Meaning

    Use

    kanji

    Meaning

    Report

    kanji

    Meaning

    Face, Surface

    kanji

    Meaning

    Music, Bend

    kanji

    Meaning

    Mediate, Jammed in

    kanji

    Meaning

    Plate

    kanji

    Meaning

    Climate

    kanji

    Meaning

    Old, Past

    kanji

    Meaning

    Mourn, Condolence

    kanji

    鹿

    Meaning

    Deer

    kanji

    Meaning

    Spit, Skewer

Learn the Kanji

Let's make sure you fully understand this kanji.

What does 川 mean?

川 means 'River'.

Japanese school students learn this kanji in First Grade, while non-native learners often study it for the JLPT N5 exam.

To help you master this kanji, here's an interactive lesson where you'll practice its readings and meanings.