Recognise 葉 in complete Japanese words. These examples show leaves, words and autumn foliage in context.

The idea

葉 has 12 strokes; follow their order in the linked KanjiVG diagram. Compare 葉（は） with 言葉（ことば）: learn readings with whole words. N3 is an editorial estimate, not an official JLPT kanji list.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample in context
葉はThere are fallen leaves in the garden.
言葉ことばI learn a new word.
紅葉こうようIn autumn, I go to see the fall foliage.
葉の色はのいろThe leaves have already changed colour.

Examples

  • 庭にわに葉はが落おちています。There are fallen leaves in the garden.
  • 新あたらしい言葉ことばを覚おぼえます。I learn a new word.
  • 秋あきには紅葉こうようを見みに行いきます。In autumn, I go to see the fall foliage.
  • この木きの葉はは大おおきいです。The leaves of this tree are large.
  • 葉はの色いろがもう変かわりました。The leaves have already changed colour.
  • その言葉ことばをもう一度いちど言いってください。Please say that word again.

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

Watch out

葉 alone is は, but in 言葉 it is part of ことば and in 紅葉 the whole word here is こうよう. Do not assume a single reading works in every word. Compare 葉 with 薬: a shared component does not make them interchangeable.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 葉 in hiragana.

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    は

    葉 is read は. In context: There are fallen leaves in the garden.

  2. Write the reading of 言葉 in hiragana.

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    ことば

    言葉 is read ことば. In context: I learn a new word.

  3. Write this lesson’s kanji in the blank: ＿（は）.

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    葉

    葉 completes 葉, read は. In context: There are fallen leaves in the garden.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 葉 from memory, and read 葉 and 言葉 aloud. Then check the examples and make a sentence of your own.