河
A large natural stream of water flowing in a channel to the sea, a lake, or another such stream. While the character 川 is more common for general rivers, 河 often refers to larger, more significant rivers or is used in formal geographic contexts.
Examples
3 of 5家の近くに大きな河が流れています。
A large river flows near my house.
この地域は一級河川の管理下にあります。
This area is under the management of a first-class river system.
昨日の夜、河原で花火を見たよ。
I watched fireworks at the riverbed last night.
Word Family
Memory Tip
The left side (氵) means water. The right side (可) can mean 'can'. Think of a river as a place where you 'can' find plenty of 'water'.
Quick Quiz
日本で一番長い___の名前を教えてください。
Correct!
The correct answer is: 河
Examples
家の近くに大きな河が流れています。
everydayA large river flows near my house.
この地域は一級河川の管理下にあります。
formalThis area is under the management of a first-class river system.
昨日の夜、河原で花火を見たよ。
informalI watched fireworks at the riverbed last night.
河川の浸食作用により、この地形が形成されました。
academicThis terrain was formed by the erosive action of rivers.
当社は河川改修工事の入札に参加します。
businessOur company will participate in the bid for the river improvement project.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
大河ドラマ
Taiga drama (long-running historical TV series)
銀河
The Milky Way / Galaxy
三途の河
The Sanzu River (Buddhist equivalent of the River Styx)
Often Confused With
川 is the standard, everyday kanji for any river; 河 is typically reserved for very large rivers (like the Yellow River) or formal geographic terms.
Usage Notes
In daily conversation, 'kawa' is almost always written as 川. Use 河 primarily when referring to famous large rivers in China, in specific compound words (like 河川 or 銀河), or for a more literary/grand feel.
Common Mistakes
Beginners often use 河 when they should use the simpler 川. Also, don't confuse it with 湖 (mizuumi), which refers to a lake (standing water).
Memory Tip
The left side (氵) means water. The right side (可) can mean 'can'. Think of a river as a place where you 'can' find plenty of 'water'.
Word Origin
A phono-semantic compound where the left radical represents water and the right side originally provided the sound and the meaning of 'large' or 'curving'.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
Rivers are vital to Japanese life, historically serving as the boundaries between provinces and the source of irrigation for rice paddies.
Quick Quiz
日本で一番長い___の名前を教えてください。
Correct!
The correct answer is: 河
Related Vocabulary
Related Words
学期
A1A school term or semester that divides the academic year into specific periods of study. In Japan, the academic year is typically divided into three terms starting in April, September, and January.
期限
A1期限 refers to a time limit, deadline, or expiration date by which a specific action must be completed or a period ends. It is commonly used for business deadlines, document submissions, and the shelf life of food products.
刻
A1A specific moment in time or a point in time, often used to describe the ticking passage of time. Historically, it also refers to a specific unit of time (roughly two hours) in the traditional Japanese timekeeping system.
刹那
A1A Buddhist-derived term referring to an extremely short period of time, similar to an 'instant' or 'moment.' It often carries a poetic or philosophical nuance, suggesting that something is fleeting or transient.
永久
A1Refers to a state of lasting forever or being permanent without change. It is often used to describe time, systems, or physical states that are intended to remain indefinitely.
永遠
A1This word refers to a state of being eternal or lasting forever without an end. It is commonly used in emotional, philosophical, or romantic contexts to describe things that do not change over time.
暫時
A1A formal term referring to a short period of time or a brief moment. It is typically used in writing or polite speech to describe a temporary state or a short duration of an action.
久しぶり
A1A phrase used to express that a significant amount of time has passed since an event last occurred or since meeting someone. It is most commonly used as a greeting equivalent to 'Long time no see' in English.
晩期
A1晩期 refers to the final or late stage of a specific period, process, or condition. It is most commonly used in historical, archaeological, or medical contexts to describe the concluding phase of an era or the advanced stage of a disease.
初期
A1The first stage or beginning period of an event, process, or historical era. It is used to describe the initial phase of something that continues over time.
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