冶

KANJI DETAIL

smelt

On readingや

7 strokesN1

Radical 冫 · ice

Stroke order

7 strokes

Japanese readings

On reading: や
Kun reading: None

Study notes

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

Structure: 冶 is used for smelting or working metal and has the on-reading や.
Basic usage: 冶金(やきん) means metallurgy, while 陶冶(とうや) is also used for cultivating character.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

Working metal and cultivating character
- 冶金技術 concerns techniques for working metal. By contrast, 人格の陶冶 concerns developing and refining a person's character, so the shared kanji occurs with different subjects and meanings.