9 Kanji with 金 (きん) | Master the Metal Radical Kanji at Once
We have compiled 9 JLPT N3-level kanji that include the metal radical (金).
You can easily deduce the meaning of these kanji through the common semantic thread of the 金 radical, which represents metals, minerals, and tools.
Compare similarly shaped kanji to accurately distinguish their readings and meanings.
How this bundle was curated
All items at a glance
| Kanji | On-reading | Kun-reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 金 | きん | かね | gold / money / metal |
| 銀 | ぎん | しろがね | silver |
| 銅 | どう | あかがね | copper |
| 鉄 | てつ | くろがね | iron |
| 鏡 | きょう | かがみ | mirror |
| 鉛 | えん | なまり | lead |
| 鎖 | さ | くさり | chain |
| 鋼 | こう | はがね | steel |
| 針 | しん | はり | needle |
Item by item
Kun: かね
On: きん
gold / money / metal
Represents metal in general and also means money or currency.
Kun: しろがね
On: ぎん
silver
Represents silver, the next most precious metal after gold. Used in words like 銀行 (bank).
Kun: あかがね
On: どう
copper
Means copper and is often seen in words like 銅メダル (bronze medal).
Kun: くろがね
On: てつ
iron
Means iron or steel, and is frequently used in transportation-related words like 地下鉄 (subway) and 鉄道 (railway).
Kun: かがみ
On: きょう
mirror
In the past, mirrors were made by polishing bronze or other metals, which is why it contains the 金 radical.
Kun: なまり
On: えん
lead
Means lead, a heavy metal. It is the kanji used in the word 鉛筆 (pencil).
Kun: くさり
On: さ
chain
Means a chain made of metal. It is also used to mean tightly closing or locking, as in 閉鎖 (closure).
Kun: はがね
On: こう
steel
Means firmly forged iron, or steel.
Kun: はり
On: しん
needle
Means a needle, a sharp tool made of metal. Also used for clock hands (時計の針) or syringe needles.
Practice with examples
How to decide when unsure
- When the 金 radical is placed on the left side (as a 'hen'), it generally indicates a type of metal or a tool made of metal.
- While 鉄 (iron) and 鋼 (steel) seem similar, 鋼 generally carries the nuance of a harder, more processed metal.
- Even for objects like 鏡 (mirror) that seem to have little direct connection to metal today, understanding that the kanji was created based on historical materials (bronze mirrors) makes memorization easier.
Common mistakes
The right side of 銀 (silver) is 艮, while the right side of 鉄 (iron) is 失. Because their shapes are similar, they are easy to write incorrectly, so careful attention is needed.
Wrong example: 金 + 失 = 銀 (X)/Correct example: 金 + 艮 = 銀 (O)
Mini quiz
Which of the following is the correct kanji for the Japanese word meaning "subway"?
One-line summary
Kanji with the metal radical (金) share common meanings related to metals. Grouping and memorizing them around their radical can significantly improve your kanji learning efficiency.
FAQ
Why does "mirror" (鏡) have the metal radical (金)?
In ancient times, mirrors were not made of glass, but of polished metal surfaces like bronze or copper. This historical background is preserved in the kanji.
When is 金 read as "きん" and when is it read as "かね"?
It depends on the context, but generally, when referring to the metal itself or a gold medal, it is read as "きん" (kin). When referring to money or currency, it is often read as "かね" (kane), as in "お金" (okane).
