淡 — “Thin / Faint / Pale / Fleeting” in Japanese

Master (高手)たん, あわ

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“Thin / Faint / Pale / Fleeting” in Japanese is 淡, read tan, awa (たん, あわ). It is a Jōyō kanji taught in Japanese secondary school (junior & senior high) — the 高手 · Master tier beyond the grade 1–6 Kyōiku set, and appears in words such as 淡水 (fresh water).

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What does 淡 mean?

Full details, readings & example

Kanji	淡
Meaning	Thin / Faint / Pale / Fleeting
Readings	たん, あわ
Grade	Master (高手 · secondary school)
Curriculum	Jōyō kanji · Japanese secondary school (JLPT N1–N2)
Example	淡水 (fresh water)

How to read 淡

淡 is read tan (たん) or awa (あわ) depending on the word.

Words with 淡

淡水

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Kanji read the same way as 淡

Same sound, different character — the classic trap. Compare them side by side:

Updated: 2026-08-28