井: the kanji for well
井 is a JLPT N1 kanji that means well. Below are its readings, 4 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
井 is written in 4 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
井 has 3 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 4 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
セイ (sei)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 市井しせい · shisei | the streets; ordinary society |
| 油井ゆせい · yusei | oil well |
ショウ (shou)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 天井てんじょう · tenjō | ceiling |
い (i)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 井戸いど · ido | well … |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- この部屋は天井が高い。Kono heya wa tenjō ga takai.This room has a high ceiling.
- 昔は井戸の水を使っていた。Mukashi wa ido no mizu o tsukatte ita.People used to use well water.
- 市井の人々の暮らしを描いた小説だ。Shisei no hitobito no kurashi o egaita shōsetsu da.It is a novel depicting the lives of ordinary people.
- 井の中のかわず大海を知らず。I no naka no kawazu taikai o shirazu.A frog in a well knows nothing of the great ocean.
- 天井から水が漏れている。Tenjō kara mizu ga morete iru.Water is leaking from the ceiling.
Questions about 井
How many strokes does 井 have?
井 is written in 4 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 井?
The on readings are sei (セイ), shou (ショウ). The kun readings are i (い).
What JLPT level is 井?
N1. 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 N1 is designed to match the former Level 1.
More JLPT N1 kanji
Places, land and buildings
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 井
- 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.