JAPANAN 日本語
Native Speaker Kanji Series
3 strokes
川 (river)
Core Meaning
river · stream
かわ（名）
音読み On-yomi
セン
- 河川かせんrivers
- 川柳せんりゅうsenryū poem
訓読み Kun-yomi
かわ
- 川かわriver
- 川沿いかわぞいalong the river
- 小川おがわbrook
Etymology — pictographic origin
origin
Memory Hook
Three flowing lines — water rushing downhill. Trace the strokes top to bottom: かわ! The "wa" sound flows like water.
Writing Practice — tap to watch, trace, or quiz yourself
Touch Practice
Tap Watch to see the stroke order, or Practice to write 川 from memory.
Exercises
✦ Reading — write how to read the highlighted kanji
1
この川はながいです。
This river is long.
2
山と川がきれいです。
The mountains and river are beautiful.
✦ Writing — write the correct kanji in the blank
3
あのはひろいです。
That river is wide.
4
日本にはがたくさんあります。
Japan has many rivers.
文化ノート
Cultural Note
Japan's famous rivers
Japan's rivers are short, fast, and powerful — carved by mountains. The mightiest: 利根川 (longest), 信濃川 (widest), and 隅田川, famed for Edo ukiyo-e prints and Japan's most iconic summer fireworks.
とねがわ · longest
しなのがわ · widest
すみだがわ · fireworks
Native Speaker's NoteWhat your textbook won't tell you
①
⚠ Don't confuse with — 三 (three) has three horizontal strokes; 川 has three vertical strokes. Remember: rivers flow vertically — downhill.川（かわ）≠ 三（さん）
②
川 is a surname powerhouse — 川 appears in more Japanese family names than almost any other kanji — 川口、石川、品川、川上、川村 and hundreds more. Learning 川 early means you can instantly read a huge chunk of Japanese surnames you will encounter every day.かわぐち · いしかわ · しながわ · かわかみ · かわむら
③
Famous rivers — Japan's most famous rivers include 利根川 (とねがわ), 信濃川 (しなのがわ) and the Sumida River in Tokyo (隅田川・すみだがわ).とねがわ · しなのがわ · すみだがわ
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N5 Kanji · 川 · Sheet 2 of 110