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川
川 (readings: せん, かわ; Japanese kanji) means “river”. It is a Grade 1 Kyōiku kanji, taught in year 1 of Japanese elementary school, and appears in words such as 川べり (riverside).
What does 川 mean?
| Kanji | 川 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | river |
| Readings | せん, かわ |
| Grade | Grade 1 (Easiest) |
| Curriculum | Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school |
How to read 川
川 is read せん or かわ depending on the word.
Example words with 川
| Example | 川べり (riverside) |
|---|
Practice writing 川 — free
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Updated: 2026-07-14