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JLPT N210画 · 10 strokesradical 水freq #315

bay, gulf

On'yomi (音読み)

  • ワン

Kun'yomi (訓読み)

Mnemonic

Imagine a roof (宀) sheltering a tranquil bay (水) where boats float peacefully, creating a safe haven that resembles the welcoming curve of a bay.

About this kanji

The kanji 「湾」 primarily means "bay" or "gulf." It is commonly used as a noun, representing a body of water where the shoreline curves inward. You might encounter the compound 湾岸 (わんがん), which refers to a "coastal area," or 東京湾 (とうきょうわん), meaning "Tokyo Bay," one of Japan's most famous bays. Another useful compound is 湾曲 (わんきょく), which means "curvature," referring to the bending shape, often used in geographical contexts. A quick note: this kanji does not have native readings, so you'll primarily see it used in compounds or when discussing waterscapes.

Built from

Example sentences

  • この湾は風が強い。

    This bay is windy.

Meanings across languages

English
bay, gulf
Tiếng Việt
vịnh, đầm, vùng nước
日本語
湾, 入江, 大きな海の一部
한국어
中文
id
teluk
th
อ่าว
es
bahía
fr
baie
de
Bucht
pt
baía

Common compounds

  • 湾岸わんがんcoastal area, bay shore
  • 東京湾とうきょうわんTokyo Bay
  • 湾曲わんきょくcurvature, bend

Want to actually learn this kanji?

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