Recognize 銀 in 銀 and 銀行. Connect each word’s reading with its meaning in context.

The idea

銀 has 14 strokes; follow the linked KanjiVG diagram for their order. Read 銀（ぎん） and 銀行（ぎんこう） as whole words: a kanji’s reading depends on the word.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample in context
銀ぎんI bought a silver ring.
銀行ぎんこうThe bank is in front of the station.
銀色ぎんいろI chose a silver-coloured box.

Examples

  • 銀ぎんの指輪ゆびわを買かいました。I bought a silver ring.
  • このスプーンは銀ぎんでできています。This spoon is made of silver.
  • 銀行ぎんこうは駅えきの前まえにあります。The bank is in front of the station.
  • 銀行ぎんこうで口座こうざを開ひらきます。I open an account at the bank.
  • 銀色ぎんいろの箱はこを選えらびました。I chose a silver-coloured box.
  • その車くるまは銀色ぎんいろです。That car is silver.

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

Watch out

銀 is the metal silver; 銀色 describes a colour, not necessarily the material. Do not assume that every word containing 銀 has the same meaning or reading. Compare 銀 with 根; pay attention to 金／木 when distinguishing their shapes.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 銀 in hiragana.

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    ぎん

    銀 is read ぎん. In context: I bought a silver ring.

  2. Write the reading of 銀行 in hiragana.

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    ぎんこう

    銀行 is read ぎんこう. In context: The bank is in front of the station.

  3. Write the missing kanji: ＿色（ぎんいろ）［銀／根］.

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    銀

    銀 completes 銀色, read ぎんいろ. In context: I chose a silver-coloured box.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 銀 from memory and read 銀 and 銀行 aloud. Check your readings against the examples.