炭

charcoal, coal

JLPT N2 Grade 3 9 strokes

Kun'yomi: すみ
On'yomi: タン
Radical: 火 · fire (fire, heat)

炭 means "charcoal, coal". It is a JLPT N2 kanji written in 9 strokes. It is read すみ in native Japanese words (kun'yomi) and タン in compounds (on'yomi). Japanese schoolchildren learn it in grade 3.

炭 in example sentences

石炭せきたんは化石かせき燃料ねんりょうだ。

Sekitan wa kaseki nenryou da.

Coal is a fossil fuel.
石炭せきたんは必かならずしも黒く[くろく]ない。

Sekitan wa kanarazu shimo kuroku nai.

Coal is not always black.
ストーブの中なかの石炭せきたんが燃もえている。

Sutoobu no naka no sekitan ga moete iru.

The coal in the stove is burning.

Example sentences from the Tatoeba Project, licensed CC-BY 2.0 FR.

Stroke order & writing

Want more? Practice writing from memory. Stroke-order and animation sources are on our credits page.

Words that use 炭

More 火 (fire) kanji

Common questions

What does the kanji 炭 mean?: 炭 means "charcoal, coal". It is a JLPT N2 kanji.
How many strokes does 炭 have?: 炭 is written in 9 strokes.
How is 炭 read?: It is read すみ in native Japanese words (kun'yomi) and タン in compounds (on'yomi).
What JLPT level is 炭?: 炭 is a JLPT N2 kanji.

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