Kanji 陶: pottery, porcelain

Key takeaways

Kanji 陶: pottery, porcelain. Readings and core meaning.

See vocabulary and examples below.

Kanji at a glance

陶

Meaning

potteryporcelain

On reading

トウ

Kun reading

すえ

Radical

阜

Core meaning / core image

Core meaning: 陶

pottery, porcelain

Kanji structure breakdown

陶

Structure breakdown

⻖ + 勹 + 缶

Mnemonic story

This kanji depicts the process of making pottery by building a kiln on a hill (⻖) and carefully shaping or wrapping (勹) clay into a jar (缶). It is used in words like pottery (陶磁器) and ceramic arts (陶藝).

On'yomi and kun'yomi

On reading

トウ

鬱陶しいうっとうしい
gloomy / depressing / bothersome
陶器とうき
pottery / ceramics

Commonly used words

鬱陶しい
うっとうしい
gloomy / depressing / bothersome
陶器
とうき
pottery / ceramics

Example sentences

Example 1

今日は天気がうっとうしい。

Translation

The weather is gloomy today.

Example 2

うっとうしい虫が飛んでいる。

Translation

Annoying insects are flying around.

Example 3

この店は手作りの陶器を売っています。

Translation

This shop sells handmade pottery.

Example 4

陶器の花瓶を机に置きました。

Translation

I placed a ceramic vase on the desk.

Kanji 陶: pottery, porcelain

Kanji at a glance

Core meaning / core image

Kanji structure breakdown

Mnemonic story

On'yomi and kun'yomi

On reading

Commonly used words

Example sentences

鬱陶しい (うっとうしい): meaning and examples

陶器 (とうき): meaning and examples