塩

KANJI DETAIL

salt

On readingえん

13 strokesN2

Radical 土 · earth

Stroke order

13 strokes

Japanese readings

On reading: えん
Kun reading: しお

Study notes

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

Structure: 塩 means salt; its kun-reading is しお and its on-reading is えん.
Basic usage: 塩(しお) is salt itself, while 塩分(えんぶん) refers to salt content in food or water.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

Salt that is added and salt content
- 塩 names the salt added to soup or kept in a bag. 食事の塩分 refers to the salt content of meals.
- 塩分の濃さ means salt concentration. 塩分 also describes salt present in seawater as well as in food.