砂: the kanji for sand
砂 is a JLPT N2 kanji that means sand. Below are its readings, 8 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
砂 is written in 9 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
砂 has 3 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 7 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
サ (sa)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 砂糖さとう · satō | sugar |
| 砂丘さきゅう · sakyū | sand dune |
| 砂漠さばく · sabaku | desert |
シャ (sha)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 土砂どしゃ · dosha | earth and sand |
| 土砂崩れどしゃくずれ · doshakuzure | landslide |
すな (suna)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 砂すな · suna | sand |
| 砂浜すなはま · sunahama | sandy beach |
Special readings to learn as whole words
These words use 砂, but their readings do not follow the readings above. The Jōyō Kanji Table lists them as special readings. Learn each one as a whole word.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 砂利じゃり · jari | gravel |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- コーヒーに砂糖を入れますか。Kōhī ni satō o iremasu ka.Do you take sugar in your coffee?
- 大雨で土砂崩れが起きた。Ōame de doshakuzure ga okita.The heavy rain caused a landslide.
- 子どもたちが砂浜で遊んでいる。Kodomo-tachi ga sunahama de asonde iru.The children are playing on the beach.
- 靴の中に砂が入った。Kutsu no naka ni suna ga haitta.Sand got into my shoes.
- 駐車場には砂利が敷いてある。Chūshajō ni wa jari ga shiite aru.The parking lot is covered with gravel.
Questions about 砂
How many strokes does 砂 have?
砂 is written in 9 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 砂?
The on readings are sa (サ), sha (シャ). The kun readings are suna (すな).
What JLPT level is 砂?
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 砂
- 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.