Readings: キョウ, ケイ (Onyomi), さかい (Kunyomi)
Meaning: boundary, border, region, situation
境 is a phono-semantic compound. The radical 土 (earth) provides the semantic component, indicating a place or land. The phonetic component 竟 (キョウ, ケイ) means “finally” or “to end,” thus contributing to the meaning of “boundary” or “border”—a place where something ends.
View JLPT N2 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 境 consists of 14 strokes. It begins with the 土 (earth) radical on the left side, followed by the 竟 component on the right. The strokes are written in the following order: First, write the three strokes for 土 (horizontal, vertical, horizontal). Then, for the right component 竟, write the horizontal stroke, followed by the vertical stroke, then another horizontal. After that, write the next vertical stroke, then the short horizontal and vertical strokes. Finally, complete the remaining strokes: the left-falling stroke, the two strokes forming the box, and the dot.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 土 |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 14 |
| JLPT Level | N2 |
| Grade | S (Jouyou Kanji) |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- キョウ (Kyō)
- ケイ (Kei)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- さかい (sakai)
Common Words Using 境
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 環境 | かんきょう | environment |
| 国境 | こっきょう | national border |
| 境界 | きょうかい | boundary, border |
| 心境 | しんきょう | state of mind |
| 状況 | じょうきょう | situation, circumstances |
| 逆境 | ぎゃっきょう | adversity, difficult circumstances |
| 順境 | じゅんきょう | favorable circumstances, prosperity |
| 境遇 | きょうぐう | circumstances, one’s lot in life |
| 辺境 | へんきょう | remote region, frontier |
| 境地 | きょうち | state, realm, spiritual state |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 境 | さかい | boundary, border, frontier |
| 境目 | さかいめ | boundary line, border, dividing line |
| 国境 | くにざかい | national border |
| 県境 | けんざかい | prefectural border |
| 水境 | みずざかい | water boundary |
| 山境 | やまざかい | mountain border |
| 村境 | むらざかい | village boundary |
| 野境 | のざかい | field border |
| 境を接する | さかいをせっする | to border on, to adjoin |
| 道の境 | みちのさかい | roadside, boundary of the road |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 環境問題は世界的な課題です。
Kana: かんきょうもんだいはせかいてきなこだいです。
Romaji: Kankyō mondai wa sekai-teki na kadai desu.
English: Environmental issues are global challenges.
Japanese: 彼は国境を越えて旅を続けた。
Kana: かれはこっきょうをこえてたびをつづけた。
Romaji: Kare wa kokkyō o koete tabi o tsuzuketa.
English: He continued his journey across the border.
Japanese: 彼の心境に変化があったようだ。
Kana: かれのしんきょうにへんかがあったようだ。
Romaji: Kare no shinkyō ni henka ga atta yō da.
English: It seems there was a change in his state of mind.
Japanese: この境界線は地図に示されている。
Kana: このきょうかいせんはちずにしめされている。
Romaji: Kono kyōkaisen wa chizu ni shimesarete iru.
English: This boundary line is shown on the map.
Japanese: 厳しい状況だが、彼は諦めなかった。
Kana: きびしいじょうきょうだが、かれはあきらめなかった。
Romaji: Kibishii jōkyō daga, kare wa akiramenakatta.
English: Although the situation was tough, he didn’t give up.
Japanese: 隣の家との境には低い塀がある。
Kana: となりのいえとのさかいにはひくいへいがある。
Romaji: Tonari no ie to no sakai ni wa hikui hei ga aru.
English: There is a low fence at the border with the neighboring house.
Japanese: 新しい環境に早く慣れたい。
Kana: あたらしいかんきょうにはやくかれたい。
Romaji: Atarashii kankyō ni hayaku naretai.
English: I want to get used to the new environment quickly.
Japanese: 彼女は逆境にも負けずに努力した。
Kana: かのじょはぎゃっきょうにもまけずにどりょくした。
Romaji: Kanojo wa gyakkyō ni mo makezu ni doryoku shita.
English: She worked hard without being defeated by adversity.
Japanese: 彼は芸術の深遠な境地を探求している。
Kana: かれはげいじゅつのしんえんなきょうちをたんきゅうしている。
Romaji: Kare wa geijutsu no shin’en na kyōchi o tankyū shite iru.
English: He is exploring the profound realm of art.
Japanese: ここが市と郡の境目です。
Kana: ここがしとぐんのさかいめです。
Romaji: Koko ga shi to gun no sakai-me desu.
English: This is the boundary between the city and the county.
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