Readings: トウ (Onyomi), ひがし (Kunyomi)
Meaning: east
東 is the kanji for “east” and is used in many words, such as 東京 (Tokyo), 東口 (east exit), and 東方 (the East). It’s a fundamental direction kanji for beginners.
View JLPT N5 Kanji ListKanji Details
| Radical | 木 (tree) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 8 |
| JLPT Level | N5 |
| Grade | 2nd Grade |
Readings
| Onyomi | トウ (tou) |
|---|---|
| Kunyomi | ひがし (higashi) |
How to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 東 represents the sun rising behind a tree. This symbolized “east” in ancient times — the direction the sun comes from.
- Write the vertical 木 component
- Add the 日 (sun) strokes in the center
Example Sentences
Japanese: 東口で会いましょう。
Kana: ひがしぐちであいましょう。
Romaji: Higashiguchi de aimashou.
English: Let’s meet at the east exit.
Japanese: 東京に行きたいです。
Kana: とうきょうにいきたいです。
Romaji: Toukyou ni ikitai desu.
English: I want to go to Tokyo.
Japanese: 日本の東にある町です。
Kana: にほんのひがしにあるまちです。
Romaji: Nihon no higashi ni aru machi desu.
English: It is a town located in the east of Japan.
Vocabulary Using 東
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 東 | ひがし | east |
| 東京 | とうきょう | Tokyo |
| 東口 | ひがしぐち | east exit |
| 東方 | とうほう | the East (orient) |
| 関東 | かんとう | Kanto region (eastern Japan) |
🔗 N5 Grammar & Vocabulary
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