Readings: ソウ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi)
Meaning: layer, stratum, floor, story (of a building), class (social)
The kanji 層 combines 尸 (shikabane), meaning “corpse” or “roof/enclosure”, and 曽 (sō), meaning “formerly” or “once”. The component 曽 suggests layers or piling up. Together, it visually represents stacked layers or multiple levels, which forms the meaning of “layer,” “stratum,” or “story of a building.”
View JLPT N2 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The stroke order for 層 begins with the top-left radical 尸 (shikabane), then moves to the complex 曽 part below it, ensuring each component is written correctly and in sequence. Pay attention to the horizontal strokes and their length.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 尸 |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 14 |
| JLPT Level | N2 |
| Grade | Unassigned |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ソウ (SOU)
Common Words Using 層
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 地層 | ちそう | stratum, geological layer |
| 階層 | かいそう | class, level, hierarchy, layer |
| 高層 | こうそう | high-rise, high-story |
| 低層 | ていそう | low-rise, low-story |
| 断層 | だんそう | fault (geology), rift, dislocation |
| 積層 | せきそう | lamination, layering, stratification |
| 中間層 | ちゅうかんそう | middle layer, middle class |
| 薄層 | はくそう | thin layer |
| 一層 | いっそう | much more, still more, all the more |
| 多層 | たそう | multilayered |
Example Sentences
Japanese: その建物は高層ビルです。
Kana: そのたてものはこうそうビルです。
Romaji: Sono tatemono wa kōsō biru desu.
English: That building is a high-rise.
Japanese: 社会には様々な階層があります。
Kana: しゃかいにはさまざまなかいそうがあります。
Romaji: Shakai ni wa samazama na kaisō ga arimasu.
English: Society has various social strata.
Japanese: ケーキは三つの層になっています。
Kana: ケーキはみっつのそうになっています。
Romaji: Kēki wa mittsu no sō ni natteimasu.
English: The cake has three layers.
Japanese: この地層から古い化石が見つかりました。
Kana: このちそうからふるいかせきがみつかりました。
Romaji: Kono chisō kara furui kaseki ga mitsukarimashita.
English: Old fossils were found in this stratum.
Japanese: 顧客層を広げたいです。
Kana: こきゃくそうをひろげたいです。
Romaji: Kokyaku-sō o hirogetai desu.
English: I want to expand our customer base.
Japanese: 彼の話で、問題がさらに一層複雑になった。
Kana: かれのはなしで、もんだいがさらにいっそうふくざつになった。
Romaji: Kare no hanashi de, mondai ga sarani issō fukuzatsu ni natta.
English: His story made the problem even more complicated.
Japanese: この薄層クロマトグラフィーは非常に繊細だ。
Kana: このはくそうクロマトグラフィーはひじょうにせんさいだ。
Romaji: Kono hakusō kuromatogurafī wa hijō ni sensai da.
English: This thin-layer chromatography is very delicate.
Japanese: 多層構造のケーブルを使用する。
Kana: たそうこうぞうのケーブルをしようする。
Romaji: Tasō kōzō no kēburu o shiyō suru.
English: We use a multi-layered structured cable.
Japanese: このアパートは低層住宅です。
Kana: このアパートはていそうじゅうたくです。
Romaji: Kono apāto wa teisō jūgaku desu.
English: This apartment building is a low-rise residence.
Japanese: 地震で断層ができた。
Kana: じしんでだんそうができた。
Romaji: Jishin de dansō ga dekita.
English: A fault was created by the earthquake.
Related Grammar & kanji list
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