畑 Meaning, Reading, and Vocabulary | Kunyomi はたけ
畑 is a native Japanese kanji (kokuji) that means a field (田) cleared by setting fire (火).
It has no Chinese-style onyomi and is primarily read using the kunyomi はたけ or はた.
It is frequently used in daily life and agriculture-related words such as 田畑 (たはた) and 花畑 (はなばたけ).
Kanji at a glance
Core meaning / core image
Unlike 田 (rice paddy) which is flooded with water to grow rice, 畑 refers to a dry 'field' where crops are grown without flooding. It is a kanji created in Japan (kokuji) and notably lacks an onyomi reading.
Kanji structure breakdown
Mnemonic story
This character depicts a field (田) cultivated by setting fire (火) to burn away weeds. Unlike a flooded rice paddy, it came to mean a dry field cleared by fire.
On'yomi and kun'yomi
Kun reading
Commonly used words
Example sentences
Mini quiz
Which of the following is the correct reading for the kanji 畑? (Word: 畑)
One-line summary
畑 is a native Japanese kanji meaning a field (田) cleared by fire (火), and is primarily read as はたけ or はた.
FAQ
Why doesn't 畑 have an onyomi (Chinese reading)?
This is because 畑 is not a kanji imported from China, but a kanji created in Japan out of necessity (known as kokuji, 国字). Therefore, it does not have a Chinese-style onyomi reading, only a native Japanese kunyomi reading.
What is the difference between 田 (た) and 畑 (はたけ)?
田 (た) primarily refers to a 'rice paddy' where crops are grown in water, while 畑 (はたけ) refers to a dry 'field' where vegetables or fruits are grown without flooding.
