JLPT N5 Kanji 10 — 土 (soil

JAPANAN 日本語

Native Speaker Kanji Series

目次 · Index JLPT N5 ✦ Pictograph · Soil · Earth

3 strokes

土 (earth)

Core Meaning

earth · soil · ground

つち（名）

音読み On-yomi

ド・ト

土曜日どようびSaturday
土地とちland / plot
土台どだいfoundation

訓読み Kun-yomi

つち

土つちsoil / earth
土色つちいろearthy colour
赤土あかつちred clay

Etymology — pictographic origin

origin

A cross shape with the horizontal line representing the surface of the earth and the vertical line a plant growing from it — earth giving life.

Memory Hook 土 = a cross on the ground. The bottom line is the earth, the top is what grows from it. ド = "DOwn in the dirt!" つち — feel the soil in your hands.

Writing Practice — tap to watch, trace, or quiz yourself

Touch Practice

Tap Watch to see the stroke order, or Practice to write 土 from memory.

Exercises

✦ Reading — write how to read the highlighted kanji

土ようびにそうじします。

I will clean on Saturday.

ほっかいどうは土ちがひろいです。

Hokkaido has a vast land area.

✦ Writing — write the correct kanji in the blank

ようびはかいものにいきます。

I will go shopping on Saturday.

にわのをほります。

I will dig the garden soil.

文化ノート Cultural Note

土俵 — the sumo ring is sacred earth

土俵 (どひょう) literally means "earth bale" — built from clay and sand. It is sacred Shinto ground: wrestlers throw purification salt before each match. The 土 of the ring isn't just dirt — it's a living Shinto space.

どひょう · sumo ring すもう · sumo しおをまく · salt purification

Native Speaker's NoteWhat your textbook won't tell you

①

⚠ 土 vs 士 — 士 (さむらい, warrior) looks almost identical — but the top stroke of 士 is LONGER than the bottom. For 土, the bottom stroke is longer. Remember: earth (土) has a wide base.土（つち）≠ 士（さむらい）— top vs bottom length

②

The sumo ring is sacred earth — The sumo ring 土俵 (どひょう) literally means "earth bale" — it is made from clay and sand. The 土俵 is considered sacred ground in Shinto tradition, which is why purification salt is thrown before each match and certain people are forbidden from stepping on it.どひょう · すもう · しんとう

③

土 in construction — 土木 (どぼく, civil engineering) is the foundation of infrastructure. Japan's mountainous terrain means constant 土木 work — tunnels, bridges, earthquake retrofitting.どぼく · どだい · とち

N5 Kanji · 土 · Sheet 10 of 11