Onyomi: カン, ケン · Kunyomi: あい, あいだ, ま · Meanings: interval, space
Kanji for interval, space
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The kanji 間 joins 門 (gate) and 日 (sun). In ancient script, it showed the sun shining through the space between gate doors — the image of an opening or interval. It came to mean a gap, space, or period of time, symbolizing the moment light passes through.
Shows the sun between gate doors — representing space, gap, or interval. 間 expresses both physical and temporal distance.
This kanji declares: the sun shines through the gate — 間 means space, interval, or time between moments.
| Word | Reading | Meaning | Meta |
|---|---|---|---|
| 間 | あいだ | space (between), gap, interval, distance, stretch | common JLPT-N4 Noun |
| 間 | ま | time, pause | common JLPT-N3 Noun |
| 間 | かん | interval, period of time | common Noun, Suffix |
| 狭間 | はざま | interval, space, interstice, threshold | common Noun |
| 間 | けん | ken (6 shaku, approx. 1.818 m) | Noun |
| 間に合う | まにあう | to be in time (for) | common JLPT-N4 Godan verb with 'u' ending, Intransitive verb |
| 間違える | まちがえる | to make a mistake (in), to commit an error, to get wrong, to do incorrectly | common JLPT-N4 Ichidan verb, Transitive verb |
| 間違い | まちがい | mistake, error, blunder | common JLPT-N3 Noun |
| 間もなく | まもなく | soon, shortly, before long, in a short time, in a little while | common JLPT-N2 JLPT-N1 Adverb (fukushi) |
| 間隔 | かんかく | space, interval | common JLPT-N2 Noun |