太

JLPT N3

Thick, big

Readings

On’yomi: タイ (tai)

Kun’yomi: ふと(い), ふと(る) (futo(i), futo(ru))

• ふと(い) – thick, fat • ふと(る) – to gain weight

Structure

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Detailed Explanation

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Mnemonic

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Etymology

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Visual Tip

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Vocabulary

太い

ふとい

thick

太陽

たいよう

sun

太平洋

たいへいよう

Pacific Ocean

太鼓

たいこ

drum

太字

ふとじ

bold text

Example Sentences

道が太いです。

みちがふといです。

The road is wide.

太陽が出ます。

たいようがでます。

The sun rises.

太平洋です。

たいへいようです。

It is the Pacific Ocean.

太鼓を叩きます。

たいこをたたきます。

I beat the drum.

太字です。

ふとじです。

It is bold text.

Cultural Note

🌟 太 emphasizes size, abundance, and importance in Japanese culture.
• It appears in both physical and figurative contexts (太い, 太陽, 太鼓).
• The kanji reflects cultural attention to prominence, largeness, and significance, whether in nature, objects, or symbolic concepts like the sun (太陽).
• It symbolizes strength, vitality, and visibility, important in daily life and traditional expressions.