航 means “navigate, voyage”

こう · kou

Also: sail, cruise, fly

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

コウ

Taught in grade 5 · 10 strokes

The story

A boat (舟) finding its bearing (亢): sailing with purpose across open water. As an island nation, Japan's history is written in 航海 (koukai, navigation). From the great 遣唐使 (kentōshi) envoys who sailed to Tang China, to modern 航空 (koukuu, aviation), 航 represents humanity's drive to cross vast distances.

Used in 航空 (koukuu, aviation), 航海 (koukai, navigation/voyage), and 就航 (shuukou, entering service)

More from Travel & Transport

• 旅 travel
• 飛 fly
• 乗 ride
• 通 pass through
• 運 carry
• 帰 return home
• 着 arrive
• 発 depart
• 進 advance
• 速 fast
• 遠 far
• 近 near

Learn 航 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

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