夏: the kanji for summer
夏 is a JLPT N4 kanji that means summer. Below are its readings, 9 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
夏 is written in 10 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
夏 has 3 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).
カ (ka)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 初夏しょか · shoka | early summer |
| 夏季かき · kaki | summer season |
| 盛夏せいか · seika | midsummer |
ゲ (ge)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 夏至げし · geshi | summer solstice |
なつ (natsu)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 夏なつ · natsu | summer |
| 夏休みなつやすみ · natsuyasumi | summer vacation |
| 真夏まなつ · manatsu | midsummer |
| 夏服なつふく · natsufuku | summer clothes |
| 夏場なつば · natsuba | summertime |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 夏休みは何日ありますか。Natsuyasumi wa nannichi arimasu ka.How many days of summer vacation do you get?
- 日本の夏はとても暑いです。Nihon no natsu wa totemo atsui desu.Summers in Japan are very hot.
- 夏季休業は八月十三日から十六日までです。Kaki kyūgyō wa hachigatsu jūsannichi kara jūrokunichi made desu.Our summer holiday is from August 13 to 16.
- 真夏は熱中症に気をつけてください。Manatsu wa netchūshō ni ki o tsukete kudasai.Watch out for heatstroke in midsummer.
- 夏至は一年で一番昼が長い日です。Geshi wa ichinen de ichiban hiru ga nagai hi desu.The summer solstice is the longest day of the year.
- 夏場は電気代が高くなります。Natsuba wa denkidai ga takaku narimasu.The electricity bill goes up in the summer.
Questions about 夏
How many strokes does 夏 have?
夏 is written in 10 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 夏?
The on readings are ka (カ), ge (ゲ). The kun readings are natsu (なつ).
What is クールビズ?
クールビズ (Cool Biz) is a summer dress code at many Japanese offices. From about May to September, employees can skip ties and jackets, and air conditioners are set higher to save energy.
What JLPT level is 夏?
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 夏
- 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.