Readings: セン (Onyomi), あさ.い, あさ- (Kunyomi)
Meaning: shallow, superficial
The radical 氵 (water) indicates the meaning related to water. The right part, 戈 (weapon/halberd), acts as a phonetic component, giving the ‘sen’ sound, and also contributes to the idea of cutting or being ‘not deep’.
View JLPT N2 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 浅 begins with the three-stroke water radical (氵) on the left. Then, the right side is drawn starting with the top horizontal stroke, followed by the downward stroke with a hook, and then other strokes that make up the 戈 component.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 氵 (水) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 9 |
| JLPT Level | N2 |
| Grade | S |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- セン (sen)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- あさい (asai)
Common Words Using 浅
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 浅学 | せんがく | shallow learning, superficial knowledge |
| 浅見 | せんけん | superficial view, shallow opinion |
| 浅薄 | せんぱく | superficial, shallow (e.g., knowledge, thought) |
| 浅慮 | せんりょ | shallow consideration, lack of foresight |
| 浅紅色 | せんこうしょく | pale pink, light crimson |
| 浅笑 | せんしょう | a faint smile (literary) |
| 浅春 | せんしゅん | early spring (literary) |
| 浅智 | せんち | shallow wisdom (less common) |
| 浅識 | せんしき | shallow knowledge (similar to 浅学) |
| 浅口 | せんくち | shallow mouth (e.g., of a container, less common) |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 浅い | あさい | shallow, superficial |
| 浅瀬 | あさせ | shallows, shoal |
| 浅漬け | あさづけ | light pickles |
| 浅緑 | あさみどり | light green |
| 浅葱 | あさぎ | light blue, pale green onion |
| 浅知恵 | あさぢえ | shallow wisdom, superficial knowledge |
| 浅黒い | あさぐろい | dark-skinned, swarthy |
| 浅はか | あさはか | shallow, thoughtless, superficial |
| 浅手 | あさで | a light wound |
| 浅場 | あさば | shallow place (in water) |
Example Sentences
Japanese: この川は水が浅いので、泳ぐのは危険です。
Kana: このかわはみずがあさいので、およぐのはきけんです。
Romaji: Kono kawa wa mizu ga asai node, oyogu no wa kiken desu.
English: This river is shallow, so it’s dangerous to swim.
Japanese: 彼の知識は浅い。
Kana: かれのちしきはあさい。
Romaji: Kare no chishiki wa asai.
English: His knowledge is shallow/superficial.
Japanese: 池の浅瀬で子供たちが遊んでいる。
Kana: いけのあさせでこどもたちがあそんでいる。
Romaji: Ike no asase de kodomotachi ga asonde iru.
English: Children are playing in the shallow part of the pond.
Japanese: この本は浅学な私には難しすぎる。
Kana: このほんはせんがくなわたしにはむずかしすぎる。
Romaji: Kono hon wa sengaku na watashi ni wa muzukashisugiru.
English: This book is too difficult for someone with shallow learning like me.
Japanese: 彼女は浅い眠りから目を覚ました。
Kana: かのじょはあさいねむりからめをさました。
Romaji: Kanojo wa asai nemuri kara me o samashita.
English: She woke up from a light sleep.
Japanese: 彼は物事を浅くしか考えない。
Kana: かれはものごとをあさくしかかんがえない。
Romaji: Kare wa monogoto o asaku shika kangaenai.
English: He only thinks about things superficially.
Japanese: 浅漬けきゅうりが美味しいです。
Kana: あさづけきゅうりがおいしいです。
Romaji: Asazuke kyūri ga oishii desu.
English: Lightly pickled cucumbers are delicious.
Japanese: 彼の意見は浅薄だと批判された。
Kana: かれのいけんはせんぱくだとひはんされた。
Romaji: Kare no iken wa senpaku da to hihan sareta.
English: His opinion was criticized as being superficial.
Japanese: 浅い皿に料理を盛り付けた。
Kana: あさいさらにりょうりをもりつけた。
Romaji: Asai sara ni ryouri o moritsuketa.
English: I served the dish on a shallow plate.
Japanese: その傷は浅いので心配ない。
Kana: そのきずはあさいのでしんぱいない。
Romaji: Sono kizu wa asai node shinpai nai.
English: The wound is shallow, so there’s no need to worry.
Related Grammar & kanji list
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