三: the kanji for three
三 is a JLPT N5 kanji that means three. Below are its readings, 14 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
三 is written in 3 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
三 has 4 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 13 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
サン (san)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 三月さんがつ · sangatsu | March |
| 三時さんじ · sanji | three o'clock |
| 三人さんにん · sannin | three people |
| 三回さんかい · sankai | three times |
| 三角さんかく · sankaku | triangle |
| 三百さんびゃく · sanbyaku | three hundred |
| 三千さんぜん · sanzen | three thousand |
| 再三さいさん · saisan | again and again |
| 三流さんりゅう · sanryū | third-rate |
み (mi)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 三日月みかづき · mikazuki | crescent moon |
| 三日みっか · mikka | the 3rd of the month; three days |
みつ (mitsu)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 三つ子みつご · mitsugo | triplets |
みっつ (mittsu)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 三つみっつ · mittsu | three (things) |
Special readings to learn as whole words
These words use 三, but their readings do not follow the readings above. The Jōyō Kanji Table lists them as special readings. Learn each one as a whole word.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 三味線しゃみせん · shamisen | shamisen (a three-stringed instrument) |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 三時に会議があります。Sanji ni kaigi ga arimasu.There's a meeting at three o'clock.
- 出張は三日間です。Shutchō wa mikkakan desu.The business trip is three days long.
- このプロジェクトのメンバーは三人です。Kono purojekuto no menbā wa sannin desu.There are three members on this project.
- りんごを三つください。Ringo o mittsu kudasai.Three apples, please.
- 三月に日本へ行きます。Sangatsu ni Nihon e ikimasu.I'm going to Japan in March.
- 同じ質問を再三受けました。Onaji shitsumon o saisan ukemashita.I was asked the same question again and again.
Questions about 三
How many strokes does 三 have?
三 is written in 3 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 三?
The on readings are san (サン). The kun readings are mi (み), mitsu (みつ), mittsu (みっつ).
What does 三日 mean?
三日 (mikka) means the 3rd day of the month, or three days.
What JLPT level is 三?
N5. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N5 is designed to match the former Level 4.
More JLPT N5 kanji
Numbers and money
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 三
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.