渡 means “cross over”

わたる · wataru

Also: transit, ford, ferry, cross

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading): わたる, わたす
On'yomi (Chinese reading): ト

JLPT N4 · Taught in secondary school · 12 strokes

The story

Water (氵) and a degree/measure (度): measuring the distance across water before crossing. Japan is an island nation, so 渡る has special resonance: crossing water means leaving home. 渡り鳥 (wataridori, migratory birds) cross vast oceans seasonally, and 渡航 (tokou, voyage) once meant a life-changing journey abroad.

Used in 渡る (wataru, to cross), 渡航 (tokou, overseas travel), and 渡り鳥 (wataridori, migratory bird)

渡 means “cross over”

The story

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