Readings: セン (Onyomi), かわ (Kunyomi)
Meaning: river
The kanji 川 means “river” and is easy to recognize due to its simple three-line structure resembling flowing water. It’s frequently used in place names and daily conversation.
View JLPT N5 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 川 has 3 simple strokes, representing streams of water.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 川 (river) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 3 |
| JLPT Level | N5 |
| Grade | 1st Grade |
Readings
| Onyomi | セン |
|---|---|
| Kunyomi | かわ |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 川で泳ぎます。
Kana: かわでおよぎます。
Romaji: Kawa de oyogimasu.
English: I swim in the river.
Japanese: この川は長いです。
Kana: このかわはながいです。
Romaji: Kono kawa wa nagai desu.
English: This river is long.
Japanese: 川の近くに住んでいます。
Kana: かわのちかくにすんでいます。
Romaji: Kawa no chikaku ni sundeimasu.
English: I live near the river.
Japanese: 川の水は冷たい。
Kana: かわのみずはつめたい。
Romaji: Kawa no mizu wa tsumetai.
English: The river’s water is cold.
Japanese: 川を渡ります。
Kana: かわをわたります。
Romaji: Kawa o watarimasu.
English: I cross the river.
Vocabulary Using 川
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 川 | かわ | river |
| 川辺 | かわべ | riverbank |
| 川上 | かわかみ | upstream |
| 川下 | かわしも | downstream |
| 山川 | やまかわ | mountains and rivers |
Kanji Used in This Post
| Kanji | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 川 | かわ・せん | river |
| 泳 | およ・えい | swim |
| 水 | みず・すい | water |
| 近 | ちか・きん | near |
| 長 | なが・ちょう | long |
| 冷 | つめ・れい | cold |
| 渡 | わた・と | cross |
🔗 N5 Grammar & Vocabulary
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