貝
Shellfish, Shell
かい (kai)
JLPT N5
Interesting Fact
In ancient Japan and China, shells were sometimes used as a form of currency. That's why many kanji related to money and wealth, such as 買 (buy), 貨 (goods), and 貯 (save), contain the 貝 radical.
Memory Trick
Imagine opening a shell and finding coins inside instead of a pearl. Since shells were once valuable like money, the shell reminds you of 貝.
Readings
Onyomi: バイ (bai)
Kunyomi: かい (kai)
Example Words
貝
かい (kai)
Shellfish
貝殻
かいがら (kaigara)
Seashell
貝類
かいるい (kairui)
Shellfish (category)
赤貝
あかがい (akagai)
Ark shell (seafood)
Example Sentence
海で きれいな 貝を 見つけました。
うみで きれいな かいを みつけました。
umi de kirei na kai o mitsukemashita
I found a beautiful shell at the beach.