洋: the kanji for ocean and Western
洋 is a JLPT N4 kanji that means ocean, Western. Below are its readings, 9 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
洋 is written in 9 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
洋 has 1 reading in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 9 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
ヨウ (you)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 洋服ようふく · yōfuku | clothes |
| 洋食ようしょく · yōshoku | Western food |
| 西洋せいよう · seiyō | the West |
| 東洋とうよう · tōyō | the East; Asia |
| 太平洋たいへいよう · Taiheiyō | Pacific Ocean |
| 海洋かいよう · kaiyō | ocean |
| 洋室ようしつ · yōshitsu | Western-style room |
| 洋菓子ようがし · yōgashi | Western sweets |
| 和洋わよう · wayō | Japanese and Western |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 洋服を買いにデパートへ行きます。Yōfuku o kai ni depāto e ikimasu.I'm going to the department store to buy clothes.
- お昼は洋食と和食のどちらがいいですか。O-hiru wa yōshoku to washoku no dochira ga ii desu ka.For lunch, would you prefer Western or Japanese food?
- 太平洋を越えてアメリカから来ました。Taiheiyō o koete Amerika kara kimashita.I came across the Pacific from the United States.
- 西洋と東洋の考え方は違います。Seiyō to tōyō no kangaekata wa chigaimasu.Western and Eastern ways of thinking differ.
- この部屋は洋室です。Kono heya wa yōshitsu desu.This is a Western-style room.
- 駅前に洋菓子の店ができました。Ekimae ni yōgashi no mise ga dekimashita.A Western-style pastry shop opened in front of the station.
Questions about 洋
How many strokes does 洋 have?
洋 is written in 9 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 洋?
The on readings are you (ヨウ). 洋 has no kun reading in the Jōyō Kanji Table.
What is 洋食?
洋食 (yōshoku) is Western-style food adapted in Japan, such as hamburg steak, omurice and curry rice. 和食 (washoku) is traditional Japanese food.
What JLPT level is 洋?
N4. 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 N4 is designed to match the former Level 3.
More JLPT N4 kanji
Food, animals and nature
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 洋
- 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.