湖: the kanji for lake
湖 is a JLPT N2 kanji that means lake. Below are its readings, 3 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
湖 is written in 12 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
湖 has 2 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 3 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
コ (ko)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 湖畔こはん · kohan | lakeside |
| 湖水こすい · kosui | lake water |
みずうみ (mizuumi)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 湖みずうみ · mizuumi | lake |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 湖でボートに乗った。Mizuumi de bōto ni notta.We went boating on the lake.
- 湖畔のホテルに泊まった。Kohan no hoteru ni tomatta.We stayed at a lakeside hotel.
- 冬になると湖の水が凍る。Fuyu ni naru to mizuumi no mizu ga kōru.The lake water freezes in winter.
- 琵琶湖は日本で一番大きい湖だ。Biwako wa Nihon de ichiban ōkii mizuumi da.Lake Biwa is the largest lake in Japan.
- 湖水に山が映ってとても美しい。Kosui ni yama ga utsutte totemo utsukushii.The mountains are reflected in the lake, and it is very beautiful.
Questions about 湖
How many strokes does 湖 have?
湖 is written in 12 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 湖?
The on readings are ko (コ). The kun readings are mizuumi (みずうみ).
What JLPT level is 湖?
N2. 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 N2 is designed to match the former Level 2.
More JLPT N2 kanji
Nature, weather and animals
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 湖
- 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.