Recognize 円 in 円 and 円い; learn the whole words and use them in everyday sentences.

The idea

円 has 4 strokes; follow the order in the linked KanjiVG diagram. Read 円 as えん and 円い as まるい. Learn each reading together with the whole word and its meaning.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingMeaning
円えんyen; circle
円いまるいround
百円ひゃくえん100 yen
円形えんけいcircular shape

Examples

  • このお茶ちゃは百円ひゃくえんです。This tea costs 100 yen.
  • 円えんをかみに描かきます。I draw a circle on paper.
  • このテーブルは円まるくて大おおきいです。This table is round and big.
  • 円形えんけいの窓まどが部屋へやにあります。There is a circular window in the room.
  • このペンは二百円にひゃくえんでした。This pen cost 200 yen.
  • 千円せんえんをここで払はらいます。I pay 1,000 yen here.

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

Watch out

円 is えん for yen and a circle; 円い is まるい for round, usually written 丸い. Do not read a price as まるい.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 円 in hiragana.

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    えん

    円 is read えん; it means yen; circle. Remember the reading with the complete word.

  2. Write the reading of 円い in hiragana.

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    まるい

    円い is read まるい; it means round. Remember the reading with the complete word.

  3. Complete the missing kanji from this lesson: 百＿（ひゃくえん）.

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    円

    円 completes 百円, read ひゃくえん; the complete expression means 100 yen.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 円 from memory in stroke order, and read 円 and 円い aloud. Then check their readings and meanings.