“pine tree” in Japanese is 松, read shou, matsu (しょう, まつ). It is a Grade 4 Kyōiku kanji, taught in year 4 of Japanese elementary school, and appears in words such as 松林 (pine forest).
What does 松 mean?
庭に松の木がある。
| Kanji | 松 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | pine tree |
| Readings | しょう, まつ |
| Grade | Grade 4 (Upper) |
| Curriculum | Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school |
| Example | 松林 (pine forest) |
松 is read shou (しょう) or matsu (まつ) depending on the word.
Same sound, different character — the classic trap. Compare them side by side: