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間
“interval / between” in Japanese is 間, read kan, ken, ma (かん, けん, ま, あいだ). It is a Grade 2 Kyōiku kanji, taught in year 2 of Japanese elementary school, and appears in words such as 時間 (time).
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What does 間 mean?
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ひるの間は あかるい。
ひるのあいだはあかるい。It is bright during the day.
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Full details, readings & example
| Kanji | 間 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | interval / between |
| Readings | かん, けん, ま, あいだ |
| Grade | Grade 2 (Easy) |
| Curriculum | Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school |
| Example | 時間 (time) |
How to read 間
間 is read kan (かん) or ken (けん) or ma (ま) or aida (あいだ) depending on the word.
Words with 間
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Kanji read the same way as 間
Same sound, different character — the classic trap. Compare them side by side:
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Updated: 2026-08-28