Explore 羽 in words for feathers, wings and down. Connect each reading to a complete word and a useful context.

The idea

羽 has six strokes; follow the linked diagram. 羽（はね） means a feather or wing; 羽毛（うもう） means feathers or down. Learn each reading with the whole word.

Patterns to compare
WordReadingExample in context
羽はねA white feather fell in the garden.
羽毛うもうThe down jacket is light and warm.

Examples

  • 白しろい羽はねが庭にわに落おちました。A white feather fell in the garden.
  • 鳥とりが羽はねを広ひろげました。The bird spread its wings.
  • 羽毛うもうのジャケットは軽かるくて暖あたたかいです。The down jacket is light and warm.
  • ひよこには黄色きいろい羽はねがあります。The chicks have yellow feathers.
  • ちょうが花はなの上うえで羽はねを休やすめています。A butterfly is resting its wings on a flower.
  • 道みちで羽はねを見みつけました。I found a feather on the path.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

Do not assume 羽 is always read はね: in 羽毛 it is う. 羽 can also count birds, but that use has different readings.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 羽 in hiragana.

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    はね

    羽 is はね: a white feather fell in the garden. Learn the reading with the word.

  2. Write the reading of 羽毛 in hiragana.

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    うもう

    羽毛 is うもう: 羽毛のジャケット is a down jacket. The compound has its own reading.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: ＿毛（うもう）［羽／鳥］.

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    羽

    羽 completes 羽毛（うもう）, meaning feathers or down; 鳥 means bird.

Use it today

Write 羽 following the diagram, then cover the examples and read 羽 and 羽毛. Make a sentence with one of them.