Back to dictionary
JLPT N37画 · 7 strokesradical 木freq #900

cedar, cypress

On'yomi (音読み)

Kun'yomi (訓読み)

  • すぎ

Mnemonic

Picture a giant cedar tree, its trunk so sturdy that it can support many houses, symbolizing the strength of the wood component, 木.

About this kanji

The kanji "杉" primarily means "cedar" or "cypress," referring to types of trees commonly found in Japan. It is usually used as a noun, but you might also see it in some verbs related to tree care or wood usage. A few useful compounds include "杉の木" (すぎのき), which means "cedar tree," "杉林" (すぎばやし), which refers to a "cedar forest," and "杉板" (すぎいた), meaning "cedar board". When using this kanji, it's good to remember that cedar is not only valued for its beauty but also for its durability and resistance to decay.

Built from

Example sentences

  • 公園には杉の木がたくさんある。

    There are many cedar trees in the park.

Meanings across languages

English
cedar, cypress
Tiếng Việt
tuyết tùng
日本語
すぎ
한국어
편백, 측백
中文
雪松, 柏树
id
singa, sugi
th
สน, ไซเปรส
es
cedro, ciprés
fr
cèdre, cyprès
de
Zeder, Zypresse
pt
cedro, cipreste

Common compounds

  • 杉の木すぎのきcedar tree
  • 杉林すぎばやしcedar forest, cedar grove
  • 杉板すぎいたcedar board

Want to actually learn this kanji?

The dictionary is one view. The Kanji 360 app wraps every character with mnemonic images, audio readings, stroke-order animation, story context, and SRS scheduling — free to start on iPhone, iPad, and Android.