井
KanjiJLPT N1
Well
well, well crib, town, community
Mnemonic
Four strokes forming a tic-tac-toe grid — the wooden frame under a well.
Details
The keyword for 井 is well. This kanji depicts the wooden framework of an old-fashioned water well as seen from above, with its cross-shaped support beams forming four compartments. In addition to referring to a literal well for drawing water, it can also convey the idea of a town or community, since in ancient times settlements were often organized around a shared well.
- On'yomi
- せい、しょう
- Kun'yomi
- い