間 Meaning, Reading, and Vocabulary Guide | Onyomi カン, Kunyomi あいだ
間 is an essential JLPT N5 kanji that means 'space', 'interval', or 'between' in terms of space and time.
Its onyomi is usually カン, and its kunyomi is あいだ (between) or ま (spare time, gap).
It is included in highly frequent basic words used in daily life, such as 時間 (time) and 空間 (space).
Kanji at a glance
Core meaning / core image
間 is a versatile kanji used not only to express 'between' in physical space, but also 'intervals' in time and 'relationships' between people.
Kanji structure breakdown
Mnemonic story
This character depicts sunlight (日) leaking through a closed gate (門). The gap of light visible through the gate's opening gave rise to the meaning 'between' or 'interval'.
On'yomi and kun'yomi
On reading
Kun reading
Commonly used words
Example sentences
Mini quiz
Which of the following words uses the kunyomi (あいだ or ま) for the kanji '間'?
One-line summary
間 represents sunlight coming through a gap in a gate, and is an indispensable kanji for expressing 'between' or 'intervals' in both time and space.
FAQ
What is the difference between あいだ (間) and ま (間)?
Generally, 'あいだ' refers to a clear interval between two points in space or time (e.g., between A and B). On the other hand, 'ま' is often used in slightly more abstract or idiomatic expressions, referring to a gap where something happens or spare time (e.g., 間に合う - to be in time).
Why is 人間 read as にんげん instead of にんかん?
In some Japanese kanji words, sequential voicing (rendaku) or phonetic changes occur to make pronunciation smoother. '人間' is an exceptional reading that settled as 'にんげん' instead of 'にんかん' for ease of pronunciation, so it is best to memorize it as a whole.
