香: the kanji for fragrance
香 is a JLPT N2 kanji that means fragrance. Below are its readings, 7 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
香 is written in 9 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
香 has 5 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).
コウ (kou)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 香水こうすい · kōsui | perfume |
| 線香せんこう · senkō | incense stick |
| 香料こうりょう · kōryō | flavoring; fragrance |
キョウ (kyou)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 香車きょうしゃ · kyōsha | lance (a shogi piece) |
か (ka)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 移り香うつりが · utsuriga | lingering scent |
かおり (kaori)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 香りかおり · kaori | fragrance; scent |
かおる (kaoru)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 香るかおる · kaoru | to smell sweet |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- このお茶はいい香りがする。Kono ocha wa ii kaori ga suru.This tea smells good.
- 彼女は少しだけ香水をつけている。Kanojo wa sukoshi dake kōsui o tsukete iru.She is wearing just a little perfume.
- 仏壇に線香をあげた。Butsudan ni senkō o ageta.I offered incense at the family altar.
- 庭の花が甘く香っている。Niwa no hana ga amaku kaotte iru.The flowers in the garden smell sweet.
- この商品には香料が使われていない。Kono shōhin ni wa kōryō ga tsukawarete inai.No fragrance is used in this product.
Questions about 香
How many strokes does 香 have?
香 is written in 9 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 香?
The on readings are kou (コウ), kyou (キョウ). The kun readings are ka (か), kaori (かおり), kaoru (かおる).
What JLPT level is 香?
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 香
- 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.