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JLPT N115画 · 15 strokesradical 水grade 4freq #1204

lagoon

On'yomi (音読み)

  • セキ

Kun'yomi (訓読み)

  • かた
  • -がた

Mnemonic

Imagine a serene lagoon where the water (the 水 radical) gently laps against the shores, creating a picturesque view that calms the soul.

About this kanji

The kanji 潟, pronounced as "kata" in kun'yomi and "seki" in on'yomi, primarily means "lagoon" or "tidal flat." It is often used as a noun rather than a verb. You can see it in the word 干潟 (ひがた), which means "tidal flat," an essential area for wildlife. Another common compound is 新潟 (にいがた), referring to Niigata, a city and prefecture known for its rice and sake. There’s also 潟湖 (せきこ), meaning "lagoon," which describes a shallow body of water separated from a larger one. Keep in mind that while this kanji shows geographical features, it can also be part of place names across Japan.

Example sentences

  • 彼女は潟で遊んでいた。

    She was playing at the tideland.

Meanings across languages

English
lagoon
Tiếng Việt
vùng lagun
日本語
한국어
中文
泻湖
id
laguna
th
ทะเลสาบ
es
laguna
fr
lagune
de
Lagune
pt
laguna

Common compounds

  • 干潟ひがたtidal flat, tideland
  • 新潟にいがたNiigata (city, prefecture)
  • 潟湖せきこlagoon
  • 新潟県にいがたけんNiigata prefecture (Hokuriku area)
  • 難波潟なにわがたNaniwa Bay (old name for Osaka Bay)
  • 明石潟あかしがたCamellia sasanqua 'Akasigata' (cultivar of Christmas camellia)
  • 潮干潟しおひがたtidal flat, ebb tide beach (esp. in spring)
  • 干潟星雲ひがたせいうんLagoon Nebula

Want to actually learn this kanji?

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