河 Kanji – river

Meaning and Readings

How is 河 read?

河 has the onyomi reading カ and the kunyomi reading かわ.

In romaji, these readings can be written as ka, kawa.

Common Japanese Words Using 河

These common Japanese words contain 河. Select linked kanji to explore their meanings and readings.

• 運河（うんが） — (navigable) canal, waterway
• 河川（かせん） — rivers
• 河畔（かはん） — riverside
• 銀河（ぎんが） — Milky Way
• 氷河（ひょうが） — glacier
• 河口（かこう） — mouth of river, estuary
• 大河（たいが） — large river
• 河原（かわら） — dry riverbed, river beach
• 河川敷（かせんじき） — flood plain, river terrace, riverside area, area between river and river bank

Related Kanji

• 火
  fire
• 花
  flower
• 夏
  summer
• 川
  stream, river, river or three-stroke river radical (no. 47)
• 価
  value, price
• 果
  fruit, reward, carry out, achieve, complete, end, finish, succeed