Explore 換 through things and ideas that are exchanged or replaced. Learn each reading with a whole word.

The idea

換 has 12 strokes; follow the linked diagram. In 交換 it is read かん; in 換える and 乗り換える it is か. The pattern AをBに換える replaces A with B.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample in context
交換こうかんI exchanged books with a friend.
換えるかえるI will replace the old battery with a new one.
乗り換えるのりかえるI will change trains in Tokyo.

Examples

  • 私わたしは友達ともだちと本ほんを交換こうかんしました。I exchanged books with a friend.
  • 駅えきで円えんをドルに換かえました。I exchanged yen for dollars at the station.
  • 古ふるい電池でんちを新あたらしいものに換かえます。I will replace the old battery with a new one.
  • 東京とうきょうで電車でんしゃを乗のり換かえます。I will change trains in Tokyo.
  • 会議かいぎの前まえに意見いけんを交換こうかんしました。We exchanged opinions before the meeting.
  • 部屋へやの空気くうきを入いれ換かえます。I will air out the room.

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

Watch out

変える can mean changing a state or condition; 換える emphasizes exchanging one thing for another. The readings alone do not tell you which spelling to use.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 交換 in hiragana.

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    こうかん

    交換 is こうかん: the compound means exchange, including an exchange of opinions.

  2. Write the reading of 換える in hiragana.

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    かえる

    換える is かえる: it can mean replacing one item with another.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: 乗り＿える［換／変］.

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    換

    換 completes 乗り換える（のりかえる）, meaning to change vehicles.

Use it today

Write 換 using the diagram. Cover the table, read 交換 and 換える, then make a sentence about replacing something.