冬: the kanji for winter
冬 is a JLPT N4 kanji that means winter. Below are its readings, 9 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
冬 is written in 5 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
冬 has 2 readings 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).
トウ (tou)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 冬季とうき · tōki | winter season |
| 冬至とうじ · tōji | winter solstice |
| 越冬えっとう · ettō | wintering |
| 立冬りっとう · rittō | first day of winter (lunar calendar) |
ふゆ (fuyu)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 冬ふゆ · fuyu | winter |
| 冬休みふゆやすみ · fuyuyasumi | winter vacation |
| 真冬まふゆ · mafuyu | midwinter |
| 冬服ふゆふく · fuyufuku | winter clothes |
| 冬物ふゆもの · fuyumono | winter clothing |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 冬休みに家族と北海道に行きます。Fuyuyasumi ni kazoku to Hokkaidō ni ikimasu.I'm going to Hokkaido with my family during winter vacation.
- 東京の冬は乾燥しています。Tōkyō no fuyu wa kansō shite imasu.Winters in Tokyo are dry.
- 冬至の日にゆず湯に入ります。Tōji no hi ni yuzuyu ni hairimasu.On the winter solstice, we take a bath with yuzu citrus.
- 真冬でもオフィスは暖かいです。Mafuyu demo ofisu wa atatakai desu.The office is warm even in midwinter.
- 冬物のコートをクリーニングに出しました。Fuyumono no kōto o kurīningu ni dashimashita.I took my winter coat to the cleaners.
- 冬季オリンピックを見ました。Tōki orinpikku o mimashita.I watched the Winter Olympics.
Questions about 冬
How many strokes does 冬 have?
冬 is written in 5 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 冬?
The on readings are tou (トウ). The kun readings are fuyu (ふゆ).
What is ゆず湯?
On 冬至 (tōji), the winter solstice, many people in Japan take a bath with yuzu citrus fruits floating in the water, ゆず湯 (yuzuyu). It is said to keep you healthy through winter.
What JLPT level is 冬?
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
Time and seasons
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 冬
- 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.