津 means “harbor, ferry landing”

つ · tsu

Also: haven, port, ferry

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

つ

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

シン

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 9 strokes

The story

Water (氵) beside a writing brush (聿): picture a harbor master logging each boat at the landing. 津 is a harbor: 津波, 'harbor wave', is the word the whole world borrowed, and 興味津々 is brimming over with curiosity.

Used in 津波 (tsunami, tsunami), 興味津々 (kyoumi shinshin, intensely curious), and 津 (tsu, Tsu, a city in Mie)

More from Ships & Shores

• 瀬 rapids
• 潮 tide
• 艦 warship
• 艇 small boat
• 搭 embark
• 漂 drift
• 浪 waves
• 涯 limit
• 舶 ship
• 沙 sand
• 帆 sail
• 岬 cape

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Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.