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棒
“rod / pole” in Japanese is 棒, read bou (ぼう). It is a Grade 6 Kyōiku kanji, taught in year 6 of Japanese elementary school, and appears in words such as 鉄棒 (horizontal bar).
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What does 棒 mean?
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長い棒を持つ。
ながいぼうをもつ。I hold a long stick.
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Full details, readings & example
| Kanji | 棒 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | rod / pole |
| Readings | ぼう |
| Grade | Grade 6 (Hardest) |
| Curriculum | Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school |
| Example | 鉄棒 (horizontal bar) |
How to read 棒
棒 is read bou (ぼう) depending on the word.
Words with 棒
- 鉄棒
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Kanji read the same way as 棒
Same sound, different character — the classic trap. Compare them side by side:
Updated: 2026-08-28