27
河
River
かわ (kawa)
JLPT N2
Interesting Fact
The Sumida River (隅田川) in Tokyo hosts one of Japan's largest summer fireworks festivals. Large rivers have played an important role in Japanese transportation and culture for centuries.
Memory Trick
The water radical (氵) tells you it has something to do with water. Imagine a wide river flowing endlessly toward the sea.
Readings
Onyomi: カ (ka)
Kunyomi: かわ (kawa)
Example Words
河川
かせん (kasen)
River
銀河
ぎんが (ginga)
Galaxy
河口
かこう (kakou)
River mouth
大河
たいが (taiga)
Great river
Example Sentence
大きな 河 を 渡りました。
おおきな かわ を わたりました。
ookina kawa o watarimashita
We crossed a large river.