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Kotomora

潮

tide, salt water, opportunity

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · grade 6FrequencyTop 2,000Strokes15

Readings

On'yomi

  • チョウ

Kun'yomi

  • しお
  • うしお

Nanori

  • いた

Meaning

潮 centers on the rhythmic movement of the sea: the tide. Salt water is the substance of that tide, and opportunity is a natural extension—like a favorable tide that comes and goes.

Most common words using 潮

20 of 124
  • 潮しお
    N1

    tide; current

  • 風潮ふうちょう

    tide; current

  • 新潮しんちょう

    Shinchō (magazine and publisher)

  • 潮吹きしおふき

    spouting (of a whale); blowing (water and air)

  • 潮流ちょうりゅう

    tide; tidal current

  • 満潮まんちょう

    high tide; high water; full tide

  • 最高潮さいこうちょう

    climax; peak; zenith; apex

  • 潮風しおかぜ

    sea breeze; salty wind; briny air

  • 潮時しおどき

    tidal hour

  • 新潮社しんちょうしゃ

    Shinchosha (publisher)

  • 干潮かんちょう

    low tide; low water; ebb

  • 黒潮くろしお

    Kuroshio Current; Japan Current

  • 大潮おおしお

    spring tide

  • 高潮こうちょう

    high tide; high water

  • 潮騒しおさい

    roar of the sea; sound of waves

  • 潮干狩りしおひがり

    clam digging (at low tide); clamming; shellfish gathering

  • 潮位ちょうい

    tide level

  • 血潮ちしお

    spurt of blood

  • 親潮おやしお

    Oyashio Current; Kurile Current; Okhotsk Current

  • 潮汐ちょうせき

    tide

Explore all words using 潮 →

Study

Etymology

潮 combines 氵 (water) with 朝, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of morning, when tides are often observed. The character expresses the tide and its associated salt water.

Meaning mnemonic

Water 氵 and morning 朝 come together: picture the morning tide rolling in, bringing salt water and new opportunities with the waves.

Reading mnemonic

For チョウ, imagine a tide so strong it makes a distinctive 'chow' sound as it crashes: chow -> チョウ, and the morning tide brings the sea's rhythm.