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Kotomora

環

ring, circle, loop

JLPTN2StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 500Strokes17

Readings

On'yomi

  • カン

Kun'yomi

  • わ

Nanori

  • たま
  • たまき

Meaning

環 centers on a closed circular shape: a ring, circle, or loop. It describes anything that curves around and connects back to itself.

Most common words using 環

20 of 344
  • 環境かんきょう
    N3

    environment; surroundings; circumstances

  • 環かん

    ring; band; rim

  • 循環じゅんかん
    N2

    circulation; rotation; cycle; loop

  • 一環いっかん

    link (e.g. in a chain of events); part (of a plan, campaign, activities, etc.)

  • 環境省かんきょうしょう

    Ministry of the Environment

  • 環状かんじょう

    annulation; ring shape; loop shape

  • 悪循環あくじゅんかん
    N1

    vicious circle; vicious cycle

  • 環太平洋かんたいへいよう

    Pacific Rim

  • 住環境じゅうかんきょう

    living environment; habitat

  • 環礁かんしょう

    atoll; circular coral reef

  • 金環きんかん

    gold ring

  • 環視かんし

    looking around; looking about

  • 環境庁かんきょうちょう

    Environment Agency

  • 連環れんかん

    links; chain; shackle; linking

  • 循環器じゅんかんき

    circulatory organ

  • 環境保護かんきょうほご
    N2

    environmental protection

  • 自然環境しぜんかんきょう
    N2

    natural environment; (the) environment

  • 作業環境さぎょうかんきょう

    work environment

  • 推奨環境すいしょうかんきょう

    system requirements (i.e. recommended hardware and software to run a package)

  • 環境問題かんきょうもんだい

    environmental problem; environmental issue

Explore all words using 環 →

Study

Etymology

環 combines 王 (jewel) with 睘, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of something round. The character originally referred to a jade ring or circular ornament.

Meaning mnemonic

The left side 王 (jewel) suggests a precious object, and the right side 睘 looks like a round shape with a hole. Picture a jade ring worn as a circle: 環 is a ring or loop.

Reading mnemonic

For カン, imagine a can rolling in a perfect circle: can -> カン, and the can's rim is a metal ring.