ChiramiN5 kanji · 7 strokes
車 means car
車
車Real origin
It began as a cart seen from above: the wheel and its axle.
Real origin: where the kanji comes from, as far as scholars agree.
Meaning and readings
- Meaning
- car
- JLPT level
- N5
- Strokes
- 7
- School grade
- Grade 1 in Japan
Japanese (kunyomi) くるま kuruma
くるま (kuruma) 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) シャ sha
シャ (sha) came from Chinese with the character. You mostly hear it in words made of several kanji. Dictionaries call this the on reading.
Tap a reading to see when it's used. Why kanji have two kinds of reading: onyomi vs kunyomi.
Common word
自動車 じどうしゃ · jidousha
car, automobile
Used in 24 kanji
See all 3 at N5 and N4Quick check
What does 車 mean?
Right: 車 means car.Not quite: 車 means car.In 自動車, which reading does 車 use?
Right. 自動車 is read じどうしゃ (jidousha): 車 takes シャ, its reading from Chinese.Not quite. 自動車 is read じどうしゃ (jidousha): 車 takes シャ, its reading from Chinese.