川
KanjiJLPT N5
Stream
stream, river, river or three-stroke river radical (no. 47)
Mnemonic
Three parallel vertical lines flowing downward — a stream.
Details
The keyword for 川 is stream. This kanji depicts the flowing lines of a river or stream, with its three vertical strokes representing currents of water flowing downward. It is one of the most ancient and pictographic kanji, directly illustrating the visual appearance of a waterway. While it can refer to rivers of any size, its core meaning captures the essence of flowing water in a natural course.
- On'yomi
- せん
- Kun'yomi
- かわ