Explore 宝 in words for treasure and things people cherish.

The idea

宝 has 8 strokes; follow the linked diagram. Its standalone reading is たから, while compounds such as 国宝 and 宝庫 use ほう. Learn each reading with its word.

Patterns to compare
WordReadingMeaning
宝たからtreasure
国宝こくほうnational treasure
宝物たからものtreasure; cherished object
宝庫ほうこtreasure house

Examples

  • この写真しゃしんは私わたしの宝たからです。This photograph is my treasure.
  • 子こどもたちは宝たからの地図ちずを見みつけました。The children found a treasure map.
  • 博物館はくぶつかんに国宝こくほうが展示てんじされています。A national treasure is on display at the museum.
  • 祖母そぼはこの宝物たからものの指輪ゆびわを大切たいせつにしています。My grandmother treasures this ring as a keepsake.
  • 駅えきで宝たからくじを買かいました。I bought a lottery ticket at the station.
  • その島しまは自然しぜんの宝庫ほうこです。The island is a treasure house of nature.

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

Watch out

宝物 can mean a cherished possession, not only valuable jewels. 宝くじ means a lottery ticket; it is not literally a treasure.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 宝 in hiragana.

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    たから

    宝 is たから, as in a photograph treasured by its owner.

  2. Write the reading of 国宝 in hiragana.

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    こくほう

    国宝 is こくほう, a nationally designated treasure. The compound uses ほう.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: ＿庫（ほうこ）［宝／玉］.

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    宝

    宝 completes 宝庫（ほうこ）, a storehouse or abundant source of treasures.

Use it today

Write 宝 using the diagram, then cover the table and read 宝 and 国宝. Make a sentence about something you treasure.