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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

    川

    Meaning

    River

    Reading

    kunyomiかわ

    kawa

    onyomiせん

    sen

    Parts

    丿Katakana no 丨Stick

    Example Word

    川: river. The Japanese noun '川 (かわ)' means 'river'. It refers to a natural flowing watercourse, typically freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, sea, lake, or another river. This word is commonly used in everyday conversation and place names. For example: The river is wide「川は広い」(かわはひろい). I crossed the river「川を渡った」(かわをわたった). The word '川' is often used in compound words, such as '川岸 (かわぎし)' meaning 'riverbank' or '川下り (かわくだり)' meaning 'river descent'.

    Radical

    巛

    Stroke Count

    3

    JLPT

    N5

    Grade

    1

    Frequency

    157

    Handwriting

Parts of the Kanji 川

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

    radical

    丿

    Meaning

    Katakana no

    radical

    丨

    Meaning

    Stick

川 As Part Of Other Kanji

This kanji appears as part of 3 other kanji:

    kanji

    順

    Meaning

    Order, Obey

    kanji

    訓

    Meaning

    Instruction

    kanji

    州

    Meaning

    State

Words Using 川

This kanji is used in 3 words:

    word

    川

    Meaning

    River

    word

    天の川

    Meaning

    Milky Way

    word

    小川

    Meaning

    Stream

Kanji Related to 川 Through the Part 丿

These 31 kanji contain the part 丿 as well.

    kanji

    自

    Meaning

    Self

    kanji

    少

    Meaning

    Few

    kanji

    女

    Meaning

    Woman

    kanji

    介

    Meaning

    Mediate, Jammed in

    kanji

    身

    Meaning

    Body, Self

    kanji

    八

    Meaning

    Eight

    kanji

    月

    Meaning

    Moon, Month

    kanji

    失

    Meaning

    Lose, Fault

    kanji

    寿

    Meaning

    Longevity, Congratulations

    kanji

    赤

    Meaning

    Red

    kanji

    心

    Meaning

    Heart

    kanji

    卑

    Meaning

    Mean, Lowly

    kanji

    人

    Meaning

    Person

    kanji

    向

    Meaning

    Facing, Yonder

    kanji

    弟

    Meaning

    Younger brother

    kanji

    番

    Meaning

    Turn

    kanji

    千

    Meaning

    Thousand

    kanji

    乏

    Meaning

    Scanty, Scarce

    kanji

    九

    Meaning

    Nine

    kanji

    手

    Meaning

    Hand

    kanji

    才

    Meaning

    Talent, Age (counter)

    kanji

    刀

    Meaning

    Sword

    kanji

    先

    Meaning

    Before, Previous

    kanji

    毛

    Meaning

    Fur

    kanji

    入

    Meaning

    Enter

    kanji

    血

    Meaning

    Blood

    kanji

    白

    Meaning

    White

    kanji

    羞

    Meaning

    Feel ashamed

    kanji

    朱

    Meaning

    Vermillion

    kanji

    必

    Meaning

    Inevitable, Certain

    kanji

    力

    Meaning

    Power

Kanji Related to 川 Through the Part 丨

These 25 kanji contain the part 丨 as well.

    kanji

    旧

    Meaning

    Old, Past

    kanji

    馬

    Meaning

    Horse

    kanji

    山

    Meaning

    Mountain

    kanji

    申

    Meaning

    Report

    kanji

    中

    Meaning

    Center

    kanji

    介

    Meaning

    Mediate, Jammed in

    kanji

    長

    Meaning

    Long, Leader

    kanji

    面

    Meaning

    Face, Surface

    kanji

    用

    Meaning

    Use

    kanji

    止

    Meaning

    Stop

    kanji

    皿

    Meaning

    Plate

    kanji

    竹

    Meaning

    Bamboo

    kanji

    門

    Meaning

    Gate

    kanji

    十

    Meaning

    Ten

    kanji

    弟

    Meaning

    Younger brother

    kanji

    弔

    Meaning

    Mourn, Condolence

    kanji

    声

    Meaning

    Voice

    kanji

    串

    Meaning

    Spit, Skewer

    kanji

    作

    Meaning

    Make

    kanji

    候

    Meaning

    Climate

    kanji

    耳

    Meaning

    Ear

    kanji

    曲

    Meaning

    Music, Bend

    kanji

    北

    Meaning

    North

    kanji

    鹿

    Meaning

    Deer

    kanji

    引

    Meaning

    Pull

Learn the Kanji 川

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.