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Kotomora

和

harmony, Japanese style, peace, soften, Japan

JLPTN3StatusJōyō · grade 3FrequencyTop 200Strokes8

Readings

On'yomi

  • ワ
  • オ
  • カ

Kun'yomi

  • やわ.らぐ
  • やわ.らげる
  • なご.む
  • なご.やか
  • あ.える

Nanori

  • あい
  • いず
  • かず
  • かつ

Meaning

和 centers on a state of gentle agreement and balance: harmony, peace, and the softening of conflict. The senses of Japanese style and Japan are natural extensions of this idea, reflecting a cultural emphasis on harmony.

Most common words using 和

24 of 757
  • 平和へいわ
    N4

    peace; harmony

  • 昭和しょうわ
    N1

    Shōwa era (1926.12.25-1989.1.7)

  • 和わ
    N1

    sum

  • 違和感いわかん

    uncomfortable feeling; feeling out of place; sense of discomfort

  • 大和やまと

    (ancient) Japan; Yamato kingdom; state of Yamato

  • 共和きょうわ
    N1

    republicanism

  • 緩和かんわ
    N1

    relief; mitigation; alleviation; relaxation (of restrictions, tensions, etc.); easing; softening

  • 和解わかい
    N1

    reconciliation; amicable settlement; accommodation; compromise; mediation; rapprochement

  • 共和党きょうわとう

    Republican Party

  • 調和ちょうわ
    N1

    harmony; accord; reconciliation; agreement

  • 和風わふう
    N2

    Japanese style

  • 日和ひより
    N2

    weather; climatic conditions

  • 和菓子わがし

    wagashi; traditional Japanese confectionery

  • 和食わしょく
    N3

    Japanese food; Japanese dish; Japanese cuisine

  • 和平わへい
    N1

    peace

  • 飽和ほうわ
    N1

    saturation; satiation

  • 和牛わぎゅう

    Wagyu (any of four breeds of Japanese cattle); Wagyu beef

  • 和らげるやわらげる
    N1

    to soften; to moderate; to relieve

  • 和服わふく
    N2

    Japanese clothes

  • 和むなごむ
    N1

    to be softened; to calm down

  • 和式わしき
    N1

    Japanese-style (esp. in reference to squat toilets)

  • 和尚おしょう

    priestly teacher; preceptor

  • 和室わしつ
    N5

    Japanese-style room

  • 中和ちゅうわ
    N1

    neutralization; neutralisation

Explore all words using 和 →

Study

Etymology

和 combines 禾 (grain) and 口 (mouth), originally suggesting harmony through sharing food or a peaceful meal. The modern meanings of peace and Japan developed from this core idea.

Meaning mnemonic

Picture a bowl of grain (禾) beside a mouth (口): sharing a meal brings harmony and peace, softening any tension.

Reading mnemonic

For ワ, imagine a peaceful 'wa' sound, like a gentle exhale, as everyone sits in harmony around the grain bowl: wa -> ワ.