Explore 層 in physical layers and groups of people. Learn each reading with its whole word.

The idea

層 has 14 strokes and the on-reading そう. Follow the linked stroke-order diagram. 地層（ちそう） means geological strata, 上層（じょうそう） an upper layer, and 若年層（じゃくねんそう） young people as a group.

Patterns to compare
WordReadingContext
層そうThe clouds formed a thick layer.
地層ちそうWe studied the geological strata.
上層じょうそうThe upper layer is warm.
若年層じゃくねんそうThis service is popular with young people.

Examples

  • 雲くもが厚あつい層そうを作つくりました。The clouds formed a thick layer.
  • この建物たてものは十層じゅっそうです。This building has ten storeys.
  • 地層ちそうを調しらべました。We studied the geological strata.
  • 上層じょうそうは暖あたたかいです。The upper layer is warm.
  • このサービスは若年層じゃくねんそうに人気にんきがあります。This service is popular with young people.
  • 二ふたつの層そうは色いろが違ちがいます。The two layers have different colours.

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

Watch out

層 can refer to a physical layer or a category of people; context decides. Do not confuse its shape with 増, which means increase.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 地層 in hiragana.

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    ちそう

    地層 is ちそう: it refers to geological strata. Learn the reading with the whole compound.

  2. Write the reading of 上層 in hiragana.

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    じょうそう

    上層 is じょうそう: 上 indicates the upper layer.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: 地＿（ちそう）［層／増］.

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    層

    層 completes 地層（ちそう）, geological strata; 増 means increase.

Use it today

Write 層 following the diagram, then cover the table and read 地層 and 上層. Make a sentence using one.