鉄: the kanji for iron
鉄 is a JLPT N2 kanji that means iron. Below are its readings, 4 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
鉄 is written in 13 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
鉄 has 1 reading in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 4 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
テツ (tetsu)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 鉄てつ · tetsu | iron |
| 地下鉄ちかてつ · chikatetsu | subway |
| 鉄道てつどう · tetsudō | railway |
| 私鉄してつ · shitetsu | private railway |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 地下鉄で会社に通っている。Chikatetsu de kaisha ni kayotte iru.I commute to work by subway.
- この橋は鉄でできている。Kono hashi wa tetsu de dekite iru.This bridge is made of iron.
- 息子は鉄道が大好きだ。Musuko wa tetsudō ga daisuki da.My son loves trains.
- この駅で私鉄に乗り換えられる。Kono eki de shitetsu ni norikaerareru.You can transfer to a private railway line at this station.
- 鉄は熱いうちに打て。Tetsu wa atsui uchi ni ute.Strike while the iron is hot.
Questions about 鉄
How many strokes does 鉄 have?
鉄 is written in 13 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 鉄?
The on readings are tetsu (テツ). 鉄 has no kun reading in the Jōyō Kanji Table.
What JLPT level is 鉄?
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
Science, materials and colors
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 鉄
- 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.