ChiramiN5 kanji · 3 strokes
土 means earth, soil
土
土Real origin
It began as a mound of earth on the ground: earth, soil.
Real origin: where the kanji comes from, as far as scholars agree.
Meaning and readings
- Meanings
- soil, earth, ground, Turkey
- JLPT level
- N5
- Strokes
- 3
- School grade
- Grade 1 in Japan
Japanese (kunyomi) つち tsuchi
つち (tsuchi) is the Japanese word for this kanji. You use it when the kanji stands alone or has kana after it. Dictionaries call this the kun reading.
From Chinese (onyomi) ド do
ド (do) came from Chinese with the character. You mostly hear it in words made of several kanji. Dictionaries call this the on reading.
Other readings from Chinese: ト to
Tap a reading to see when it's used. Why kanji have two kinds of reading: onyomi vs kunyomi.
Common word
お土産 おみやげ · omiyage
local specialty or souvenir bought as a gift while traveling
Quick check
What does 土 mean?
Right: 土 means earth, soil.Not quite: 土 means earth, soil.In お土産 (おみやげ), what kind of reading does 土 have?
Right. お土産 (おみやげ, omiyage) has a special reading: it belongs to this word, not to 土 on its own, so you learn it with the word.Not quite. お土産 (おみやげ, omiyage) has a special reading: it belongs to this word, not to 土 on its own, so you learn it with the word.