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JLPT N18画 · 8 strokesradical 山freq #1972

headland, cape, spit, promontory

On'yomi (音読み)

  • コウ

Kun'yomi (訓読み)

  • みさき

Mnemonic

As the mountain (山) juts dramatically into the sea, the spit of land (岬) resembles a proud headland extending its arm into the waves.

About this kanji

The kanji 岬, pronounced "misaki" in kun'yomi and "kou" in on'yomi, primarily means "headland" or "cape," referring to a point of land extending into a body of water. This kanji is most often used as a noun. You might encounter it in compounds like 岬湾 (こうわん), which means "capes and bays," and 岬角 (こうかく), meaning "a prominent point of land." These compounds highlight the geographical aspect of this kanji. A useful note is that many locations in Japan have names containing this kanji, so it's quite common in place names, particularly those near the coast.

Example sentences

  • 美しい岬で写真を撮った。

    I took a photo at the beautiful cape.

Meanings across languages

English
headland, cape, spit, promontory
Tiếng Việt
mũi đất, hàm, bãi nhô, điểm nhô
日本語
岬, ケープ, 先端, 突端
한국어
곶, 해안
中文
岬, 海角, 沙嘴, 突岬
id
tanah tanduk
th
แหลม
es
cabo
fr
cap
de
Kap
pt
cabo

Common compounds

  • 岬湾こうわんcapes and bays, indentation (of a coast)
  • 岬角こうかくanat promontory, promontory

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