KanjiSchool
灰
“ash” in Japanese is 灰, read kai, hai (かい, はい). It is a Grade 6 Kyōiku kanji, taught in year 6 of Japanese elementary school, and appears in words such as 灰色 (gray).
Try it now
What does 灰 mean?
Learn all 1,018 kanji with spaced-repetition review — free. Start free →
火が灰になった。
ひがはいになった。The fire turned to ash.
Get unlimited AI example sentences + native audio + saved progress. Start free →
Unlock guided stroke order, scoring and daily streaks. Start free →
Full details, readings & example
| Kanji | 灰 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | ash |
| Readings | かい, はい |
| Grade | Grade 6 (Hardest) |
| Curriculum | Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school |
| Example | 灰色 (gray) |
How to read 灰
灰 is read kai (かい) or hai (はい) depending on the word.
Words with 灰
- 灰色
Learn 灰 in real sentences — free
Read stories and news built from only the kanji you already know. KanjiSchool’s path covers all 2,136 Jōyō kanji — 1,018 ready to learn now.
Start free — no credit card →
Kanji read the same way as 灰
Same sound, different character — the classic trap. Compare them side by side:
Read this character in a real sentence
Updated: 2026-08-28