鉛: the kanji for lead
鉛 is a JLPT N1 kanji that means lead. Below are its readings, 5 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
鉛 is written in 13 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
鉛 has 2 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 5 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
エン (en)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 鉛筆えんぴつ · enpitsu | pencil |
| 亜鉛あえん · aen | zinc |
| 黒鉛こくえん · kokuen | graphite |
なまり (namari)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 鉛なまり · namari | lead (metal) |
| 鉛色なまりいろ · namariiro | lead gray |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 鉛筆で名前を書いてください。Enpitsu de namae o kaite kudasai.Please write your name in pencil.
- 鉛色の空から雨が降り出した。Namariiro no sora kara ame ga furidashita.Rain began to fall from a lead-gray sky.
- 疲れて体が鉛のように重い。Tsukarete karada ga namari no yō ni omoi.I'm so tired my body feels as heavy as lead.
- 鉛筆のしんは黒鉛でできている。Enpitsu no shin wa kokuen de dekite iru.Pencil lead is made of graphite.
- 亜鉛は体に必要な栄養だ。Aen wa karada ni hitsuyō na eiyō da.Zinc is a nutrient the body needs.
Questions about 鉛
How many strokes does 鉛 have?
鉛 is written in 13 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 鉛?
The on readings are en (エン). The kun readings are namari (なまり).
What JLPT level is 鉛?
N1. 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 N1 is designed to match the former Level 1.
More JLPT N1 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 鉛
- 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.