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東
東 (readings: とう, ひがし; Japanese kanji) means “east”. It is a Grade 2 Kyōiku kanji, taught in year 2 of Japanese elementary school, and appears in words such as 東京 (Tokyo).
What does 東 mean?
| Kanji | 東 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | east |
| Readings | とう, ひがし |
| Grade | Grade 2 (Easy) |
| Curriculum | Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school |
How to read 東
東 is read とう or ひがし depending on the word.
Example words with 東
| Example | 東京 (Tokyo) |
|---|
Practice writing 東 — free
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Updated: 2026-07-14