東: the kanji for east
東 is a JLPT N5 kanji that means east. Below are its readings, 11 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
東 is written in 8 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
東 has 2 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 11 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
トウ (tou)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 東京とうきょう · Tōkyō | Tokyo |
| 関東かんとう · Kantō | Kanto (the region around Tokyo) |
| 東西とうざい · tōzai | east and west |
| 中東ちゅうとう · Chūtō | the Middle East |
| 東北とうほく · Tōhoku | Tohoku (a region of Japan) |
| 東部とうぶ · tōbu | the eastern part |
| 東洋とうよう · tōyō | the East; Asia |
| 東海道とうかいどう · Tōkaidō | the Tokaido (the route from Tokyo to Kyoto) |
ひがし (higashi)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 東ひがし · higashi | east |
| 東口ひがしぐち · higashiguchi | east exit |
| 東側ひがしがわ · higashigawa | east side |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 東京本社で会議があります。Tōkyō honsha de kaigi ga arimasu.There's a meeting at the Tokyo head office.
- 東口の改札を出てください。Higashiguchi no kaisatsu o dete kudasai.Please go out through the ticket gate at the east exit.
- 関東に住んでいます。Kantō ni sunde imasu.I live in the Kanto region.
- 来月、中東に出張します。Raigetsu, Chūtō ni shutchō shimasu.I'm going on a business trip to the Middle East next month.
- 太陽は東から昇ります。Taiyō wa higashi kara noborimasu.The sun rises in the east.
- 東海道新幹線で大阪へ行きます。Tōkaidō shinkansen de Ōsaka e ikimasu.I'll go to Osaka on the Tokaido Shinkansen.
Questions about 東
How many strokes does 東 have?
東 is written in 8 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 東?
The on readings are tou (トウ). The kun readings are higashi (ひがし).
What is 関東?
関東 (Kantō) is the region around Tokyo. It includes Tokyo and nearby prefectures such as Kanagawa, Saitama and Chiba.
What JLPT level is 東?
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
Places and directions
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 東
- 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.