Explore 州 in political geography and Japanese place names. Learn each reading as part of a whole word.
The idea
州 has six strokes and is read しゅう in 州, 九州 and 本州. After a state name it means a state, as in カリフォルニア州.
| Word | Reading | Example |
|---|---|---|
| カリフォルニア州 | カリフォルニアしゅう | He lives in California. |
| 九州 | きゅうしゅう | I travelled to Kyushu. |
| 本州 | ほんしゅう | I boarded a ship from Honshu. |
Examples
- 彼はカリフォルニア州に住んでいます。He lives in California.
- 州の法律を調べました。I checked the state law.
- 九州へ旅行しました。I travelled to Kyushu.
- 本州から船に乗りました。I boarded a ship from Honshu.
- テキサス州は広いです。Texas is large.
- 州によって制度が違います。The system differs by state.
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Watch out
Do not confuse 州 with 川, river: 州 has three additional dots. 九州 and 本州 are place names, not US states.
Try it yourself
Write the reading of 九州 in hiragana.
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きゅうしゅう
九州 is きゅうしゅう, the name of a Japanese island and region.
Write the reading of 本州 in hiragana.
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ほんしゅう
本州 is ほんしゅう, the name of Japan’s main island.
Choose the missing kanji: カリフォルニア＿（しゅう）［州／川］.
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州
州 completes カリフォルニア州, California state; 川 means river.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
Write the reading of 九州 in hiragana.
Write the reading of 本州 in hiragana.
Choose the missing kanji: カリフォルニア＿（しゅう）［州／川］.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Write 州 using the stroke diagram, then cover the table and read 九州 and 本州. Make a sentence naming a state.