Back to dictionary
JLPT N16画 · 6 strokesradical 水freq #704

creek, inlet, bay

On'yomi (音読み)

  • コウ

Kun'yomi (訓読み)

Mnemonic

Imagine a peaceful bay where the water flows like the character 江, creating a serene creek that beckons you to relax and enjoy the beauty.

About this kanji

The kanji 「江」 primarily means creek or inlet and is often associated with water-related terms. It is typically used as a noun rather than a verb. You will encounter it in various compounds such as 江戸 (えど), which refers to the historical city of Edo, now known as Tokyo, and 江戸時代 (えどじだい), meaning the Edo period, a significant time in Japanese history. Another example is 江戸っ子 (えどっこ), referring to someone who is a true Tokyoite. When using this kanji, keep in mind that it evokes a sense of both geography and culture, particularly relating to the waterways and historical aspects of Tokyo.

Example sentences

  • 江を渡る旅が始まる。

    The journey across the river begins.

Meanings across languages

English
creek, inlet, bay
Tiếng Việt
suối, vịnh, đầm
日本語
川, 入江, 湾
한국어
개천, 내, 만
中文
江, 入湾, 海湾
id
sungai kecil
th
ลำธาร
es
arroyo
fr
ruisseau
de
Bach
pt
ribeira

Common compounds

  • 江戸えどEdo (shogunate capital; former name of Tokyo), Yedo
  • 堀江ほりえcanal
  • 江戸っ子えどっこ(true) Tokyoite, Edoite, Tokyo native
  • 江戸前えどまえTokyo style
  • 江戸時代えどじだいEdo period (1603-1868)
  • 江上こうじょう(on the) bank of a large river
  • 長江ちょうこうYangtze River (China), Changjiang River
  • 江湖こうこthe public, the world, rivers and lakes

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.