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6 strokes
Frequency: 704
JLPT N1
Grade 8

Meanings

creek
inlet
bay

Readings

On — Chinese-derived reading, usually for compounds
コウ
Kun — Native Japanese reading, usually for standalone words
Nanori — Specialized readings used in names
くん
とうみ
りえ

Common Words

江に
(縁)
にし (縁)
えに
(縁)
Noun
Freq #2425
1

fate; destiny (esp. as a mysterious force that binds two people together)

Examples
金の切れ目がの切れ目。
The end of money is the end of love.
2

relationship (e.g. between two people); bond; link; connection

Examples
戸籍上のは切れても、昔日の絆はそのままだ。
Our connection may be cut on paper but the bonds of old remain as they were.
3

family ties; affinity

4

えん only

opportunity; chance (to meet someone and start a relationship)

5

えん only; Buddhism

pratyaya (indirect conditions, as opposed to direct causes)

6

えん only; Also written as 椽

narrow open-air veranda

Noun
Freq #8517
1

Historical term

Edo (shogunate capital; former name of Tokyo); Yedo

Examples
外国人の一団が江戸、つまり東京に到着した。
A group of foreigners arrived in Edo, i.e. Tokyo.
Noun
Freq #11083
1

inlet; bay

どじだい
Noun
Freq #16550
1

Historical term

Edo period (1603-1868)

Examples
この習慣は江戸時代に始まった。
This custom began in the Edo Period.
こう
Noun
Archaic
Freq #20255
1

large river (esp. the Yangtze)

2

Lake Biwa

淡海
おうみ
Noun
Freq #24802
1

Historical term

Ōmi (former province located in present-day Shiga Prefecture)

入江
りえ
Noun
Freq #30292
1

inlet; cove; creek; bay

Examples
この丘から入り江がよく見える。
This hill commands a fine view of the bay.
じょう
Noun
Freq #39201
1

Edo Castle (residence of the Shogun during the Edo period, now the site of the Tokyo Imperial Palace)

どっこ
江戸っ児
Noun
Freq #44655
1

(true) Tokyoite; Edoite; Tokyo native; Edokko

とおとうみ
Noun
Freq #47078
1

Historical term

Tōtōmi (former province located in the west of present-day Shizuoka Prefecture)

Memory Mnemonics

Keywords

The core concepts or meanings associated with this specific kanji.

creek

Constituents

The visual building blocks used to craft this character's story.

🧩 water droplets
🧩 water pistol
craft
water

Mnemonic Stories

The water itself is an artist; its craft is patiently carving small creeks through the land over the years.

A creek is a small bit of water that can be easily crossed using a watercraft.

After a long night of drinking, it took some serious craft to aim the stream of “water“, but I missed the toilet and created a small creek on the floor.

🎓

Master this Kanji through Practice

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