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JLPT N16画 · 6 strokesradical 缶freq #1543Jōyō kanji

tin can, container, jar radical (no. 121)

On'yomi (音読み)

  • カン

Kun'yomi (訓読み)

  • かま

Mnemonic

Imagine a shiny tin can, tightly containing secrets like a locked jar, emphasizing its role as a container for precious contents.

About this kanji

The kanji 「缶」 primarily means "tin can" or "container." It is often used as a noun rather than a verb. You’ll commonly see it in words like "缶詰" (かんづめ), which means "canned food," and "薬缶" (やかん), referring to a "kettle." Another useful compound is "空き缶" (あきかん), meaning "empty can." This kanji can also be found in "缶コーヒー" (かんコーヒー), which translates to "canned coffee." A note to keep in mind is that while the kanji itself often refers to metal containers, many of its compounds can denote various types of containers in general.

Example sentences

  • 缶を開けるのは簡単だ。

    Opening the can is easy.

Meanings across languages

English
tin can, container, jar radical (no. 121)
Tiếng Việt
hộp thiếc
日本語
缶
한국어
캔
中文
罐
id
kaleng, wadah
th
กระป๋อง, ภาชนะ
es
lata, recipiente
fr
boîte, contenant
de
Dose, Behälter
pt
lata, recipiente

Common compounds

  • 缶詰かんづめcanned food, tinned food, confining someone (e.g. so they can concentrate on work)
  • 薬缶やかんkettle, bald head
  • 空き缶あきかんempty can
  • ドラム缶ドラムかんdrum (e.g. oil, gasoline), metal barrel
  • 缶コーヒーかんコーヒーcanned coffee
  • 円缶まるがまcylindrical boiler
  • 製缶せいかんcan manufacturing, boiler manufacturing
  • 汽缶きかんboiler

Words using this kanji

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