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JLPT N110画 · 10 strokesradical 金freq #1761

kettle, cauldron, iron pot

On'yomi (音読み)

Kun'yomi (訓読み)

  • かま

Mnemonic

Imagine a giant kettle shaped like a cauldron, boiling over, its metal body glimmering like gold, as you prepare a feast.

About this kanji

The kanji 釜 (かま) primarily means "kettle," "cauldron," or "iron pot," and is typically used as a noun. It appears in several common compounds, such as 後釜 (あとがま), meaning "successor," and 釜飯 (かまめし), which refers to a rice dish cooked in a pot with meat and vegetables. Another interesting compound is お釜 (おかま), simply meaning "pot." An important thing to note is that while 釜 often relates to cooking vessels, it can also have cultural significance, particularly related to tea ceremonies and traditional meals in Japan.

Example sentences

  • 釜でご飯を炊くのが好きだ。

    I like cooking rice in a pot.

Meanings across languages

English
kettle, cauldron, iron pot
Tiếng Việt
nồi, chảo, xoong sắt
日本語
釜, 大鍋, 鉄鍋
한국어
주전자, 가마, 철 냄비
中文
锅, 大锅, 铁锅
id
panci
th
หม้อหรือกระทะ
es
ollas
fr
chaudière
de
Kessel
pt
caldeirão

Common compounds

  • 後釜あとがまsuccessor, replacement, second wife
  • お釜おかまpot, (volcanic) crater, buttocks
  • 初釜はつがまfirst tea ceremony of New Year
  • 鍋釜なべかまpots and pans, kitchen utensils
  • 釜飯かまめしrice, meat and vegetable dish served in a small pot
  • 釜敷かましきkettle rest
  • 土釜どがまearthen rice cooker
  • 茶釜ちゃがまkettle (used in tea ceremony)

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