川; 河

How to remember it

The kanji 川 looks like water flowing between two banks.

Example sentences

• あの川で泳いでいます。

  あのかわでおよいでいます。

  They are swimming in that river.

• この川の水はきれいです。

  このかわのみずはきれいです。

  The water in this river is clean.

Usage

川 is everyday use; 河 appears mainly in large-river proper names.

Related words